S7 begins operating to Helsinki Airport: Air connections from Moscow to Europe to improve

Russian airline S7 will begin flying from Moscow Domodedovo airport to Helsinki Airport. The company will commence flights on 26 April with the Airbus A319. 

– S7 is a member of Oneworld airline alliance, which offers Russian passengers an extensive route network all over the world via Helsinki. The arrival of a new airline in the Finnish market will reinforce the status of Helsinki Airport as an international transit airport. We welcome the new company, says Ville Haapasaari, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport Director from Finavia.

Helsinki Airport already has direct route connections to four different city destinations in Russia. Finnair and Aeroflot operate daily to Moscow Sheremetyevo airport. In addition, Finnair flies to Saint Petersburg twice a day and to Yekaterinburg four times a week. In July, Russian airline Severstal opened a new route from Cherepovets to Helsinki. It is the only direct air connection from Cherepovets to Europe. In total, Helsinki hosts approximately 130 direct air connections to destinations all over the world.

Helsinki Airport is a leading long-distance traffic airport in Northern Europe. Daily non-stop routes to 12 different Asian cities and the United States, such as New York and, during the summer season, Chicago, are operated from the airport. There are several flights to destinations in Lapland every day. The flight time is approximately one hour.

– Russians are currently already the second largest international passenger group at Helsinki Airport. At the airport, we have increased, among other things, the number of Russian signs and developed the product selections of shops and restaurants to better meet the wishes of Russian customers. During springtime, several new shops will be opened at the airport, says Haapasaari.  

Previously, the air traffic convention between Finland and Russia enabled only one company from each country to operate on the Moscow route. The renewal of the convention at the end of October made it possible for a new airline to arrive in the market. Now, two companies from each country can operate on the same route.  

S7 has announced that they will fly the route daily. The plane will arrive in Helsinki at 12.05 PM and depart to Moscow at 12.45 PM. Tickets will be sold on the airline’s website. Along with the new convention, we estimate that their numbers will increase significantly.

Finavia, the company operating Finnish airports, will launch an extensive development programme at Helsinki-Vantaa with the aim of maintaining Finland’s good air connections and improve its position as a leading transit airport amid tightening international competition. The development programme mainly consists of increasing check-in and transit travelling capacity and improving traffic arrangements. Helsinki-Vantaa is preparing to serve 20 million passengers in the early 2020s.

FINAVIA CORPORATION
Corporate Communications

For further information, please contact:
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Finavia provides and develops airport and air navigation services with focus on safety, customer-orientation and cost efficiency. Finavia’s comprehensive network of 25 airports enables international connections from Finland — and to different parts of Finland. Helsinki Airport is the leading Northern European transit airport for long-haul traffic.

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