Exeter-based Flybe, has secured a codeshare agreement with Helsinki-based airline, Finnair which will see more travellers between the South West and Scandinavia.
From 15 September, the airline will offer passengers seamless onward travel through Flybe’s Manchester hub to Finnair destinations in Finland and on to the Scandinavian airline’s wider global network, which includes 15 Asian destinations.
Exeter has up to four flights per day to Manchester and the timetables for Finnair’s twice-daily services between Manchester and Helsinki are designed for optimal connections to Asia.
Paul Simmons, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, says: “We are delighted to be working with such an excellent and well- respected airline. The agreement with Finnair is an exciting development for Flybe, which is already Europe’s largest regional airline.
“The codeshare is a win-win for both airlines. For Flybe, it furthers our ambition of being a ‘One Stop to the World’ from the UK regions and enables us to outreach to a new and different market, whilst at the same time further facilitating the needs of our leisure and business passengers.”
“We are pleased to be able to offer an expanded network of services throughout the UK with our partner Flybe,” adds Hannu Sundberg, Finnair’s Director, Commercial Partnerships. “Greater connectivity with these regional centres in the UK enhances the ability of our customers to travel to and conduct business all over the British Isles, while also opening up Finland and Finnair’s extensive Asian network to more UK travellers.”
Passengers will be able to earn and redeem Finnair Plus points on any of the Flybe-operated flights that carry Finnair’s AY flight designator.
In 2011, Flybe established a joint venture partnership with Finnair, Flybe Finland, that operates a mixture of contract-flights on behalf of Finnair as well as its own flights around Finland and the Nordic region from its base at Helsinki Airport.
