Finnair to Fly First A350 XWB to Shanghai Next Month

Finnair (AY) will operate its first Airbus A350 XWB aircraft on Helsinki-Shanghai service from October 25 as it is due to take delivery of the newest wide-body aircraft next month and becomes the first European carrier to operate the aircraft.

Shanghai will be the European carrier's first long-haul destination to be served with the A350 XWB aircraft, with a daily A350 XWB service from October 25. Beijing follows with a daily A350 XWB service on November 21. Bangkok is also among the airline's first destinations to be served by the A350 XWB starting December 4, with Hong Kong and Singapore to be added in 2016. The airline has opened reservation for these long-haul A350 XWB services since April 9.

Finnair is the only carrier flying non-stop between Helsinki and Shanghai. Flight AY057 is scheduled to take off from Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL) at 5:10 p.m. and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) at 8:15 a.m. the next day, with the return flight AY058 departing PVG at 10:05 a.m. and landing at HEL at 2:10 a.m. (all local time), according to the airline.

Finnair's A350 XWB aircraft will be configured with 297 seats, including 46 business seats, 208 economy seats and 43 economy comfort seats in the front of the economy class cabin.

Finnair has 19 A350 XWB aircraft on order, and expects to receive the first four by the end of this year. Another seven will be delivered in 2016 and 2017, with the remaining eight to be delivered between 2018 and 2023.