newstodate.aero

Sep 08, 2021 (newstodate): With Finnair's strong emphasis on flights to Asian destinations, relations and air services agreements between Finland and Russia are crucial.
   The Finnair Group CEO, Topi Manner has been meeting in Russia with the Director of Rosaviatsia for a talk on new potentials in the air services between the two markets, as well as Finnair's overflight rights.
   Starting from September 10, 2021, the air services agreement will allow for 14 weekly flights between St Petersburg and Helsinki, against the seven weekly flights currently allowed.
   The volume of flights between Helsinki and Moscow will also go up to 14, instead of currently nine weekly rotations.
   The routes may be operated by a designated airline from both countries on a reciprocal basis.
   The issue of Finnair's overflight rights through the Trans-Sibir air lanes was also discussed - but no further details on this have been revealed.  
    Finland has been more lucky than its Scandinavian counterparts in securing additional rights to pass through the Sibir and Polar airlines, managing in 2017 to negotiate a rise in the limit from 65 to 80 weekly rotations, which allowed Finnair to increase its volume on these lanes by 15 percent