newstodate.aero

Aug 18, 2023 (newstodate): Finnair is in no need for more long-haul aircraft capacity and has now pushed back the delivery of its last new ex-factory aircraft.
   In the fleet of Finnair are now eight Airbus A330-300 and 17 Airbus A350-900, the latest of which was delivered on December 31, 2022, while deliveries of the remaining two Airbus A350-900 are still pending.
   So far, one aircraft remains slated for delivery by Q4, 2024, but the last, slated for delivery in Q1, 2025, has now been rescheduled for delivery in Q2, 2026.
   The closure of Russia's airspace has dealt a fatal blow to Finnair's Asian route network, forcing flights to the remaining Asian destinations to operate longer routes with a penalty on operational costs and capacities.
   Designed for an MTOW at 268 tonnes, five of Finnair's Airbus A350 are now certified to 275 tonnes MTOW, and another five up to 280 tonnes MTOW, allowing the aircraft to carry more passengers and cargo as well as more fuel to operate the longer distance, increasing the economic efficiency of each flight.    
   The modifications form part of Finnair’s strategy to restore profitability and increase payloads, in spite of airspace closures and increased flight times on the Asian routes.
   Finnair has also succeeded in offloading some excess Airbus A350 capacity through a long-term lease contract with oneworld partner Qantas.
   Two Finnair Airbus A330-3000 aircraft will be operating flights between first Australia and Singapore, and later between Australia and Bangkok.
   The wet-lease of the first aircraft will start in October 2023, and the wet-lease of the second aircraft will start in early 2024.   
   To be based at Sidney, the two aircraft will first serve with Qantas for a two-year period starting in 2023 on a wet-lease contract expiring in 2025 for flights between Sidney and Singapore.
   Next, the two aircraft will continue under a 2.5 years dry-lease contract operating flights between Sidney and Bangkok.  
   Finnair has also dedicated Airbus A350 capacity to its strategic partnership with Qatar Airlines, operating daily flights to Doha from Copenhagen and Stockholm since November 22, 2022.