newstodate.aero
Sep 09, 2014 (newstodate): Finnair's yearning for the introduction of the 11 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft from 2015 is further boosted by current uncertainty over the Sibir overflight rights.
Russia is threatening to retaliate to Western sanctions by reining in rights for airlines from sanctioning states to use the fuel-efficient and shorter routes between Europe and Asia via the Sibir air space.
Finnair is especially exposed to effects from any restriction on the use of the Sibir air lanes, given Finland's proximity to Russia and its dependence on using the Sibir air lanes for upholding services to its 16 Asian destinations that form the core of its business.
As Russia is not a party to international agreements on the use of air space, the country's government is free to limit access for foreign airlines as it pleases.
If Russia should impose a ban on use of its air space, the Airbus A350 aircraft will have the range to bypass the Sibir air lanes, going directly via more southerly routes between Europe and Asia.
With today's less fuel-efficient long-haul fleet of 15 Airbus A330/A340 aircraft, a Russian ban on use of air space would deal a heavy blow to the carrier.
Finnair's flights to destinations in the Far East account for 40 percent of its total passenger traffic turnover, and the carrier has the ambition to doubling the net sales of its Asian operations between 2010 and 2020.
Russia is threatening to retaliate to Western sanctions by reining in rights for airlines from sanctioning states to use the fuel-efficient and shorter routes between Europe and Asia via the Sibir air space.
Finnair is especially exposed to effects from any restriction on the use of the Sibir air lanes, given Finland's proximity to Russia and its dependence on using the Sibir air lanes for upholding services to its 16 Asian destinations that form the core of its business.
As Russia is not a party to international agreements on the use of air space, the country's government is free to limit access for foreign airlines as it pleases.
If Russia should impose a ban on use of its air space, the Airbus A350 aircraft will have the range to bypass the Sibir air lanes, going directly via more southerly routes between Europe and Asia.
With today's less fuel-efficient long-haul fleet of 15 Airbus A330/A340 aircraft, a Russian ban on use of air space would deal a heavy blow to the carrier.
Finnair's flights to destinations in the Far East account for 40 percent of its total passenger traffic turnover, and the carrier has the ambition to doubling the net sales of its Asian operations between 2010 and 2020.