Finnair to fly to KL

STOCKHOLM: Finnair will fly from Helsinki to Kuala Lumpur thrice a week, starting May 21 next year. 

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said it was a breakthrough for the country as Finnair was the first Scandinavian airline to operate in Malaysia. 

Chan said he had instructed the Malaysia Airport Berhad, Department of Civil Aviation and Malaysia Airlines to give full support to Finnair at the KL International Airport (KLIA). 

“If the demand is good, Finnair will increase their flights to Kuala Lumpur gradually and may operate a daily flight ultimately,” he added. 

He said the introduction of the flight was timely in view of Visit Malaysia Year 2007. 

“Tour agencies should take this opportunity to promote Malaysia aggressively in Finland to attract more people to visit our country." he said. 

He said 13,172 Finnish visited Malaysia in 2005. 

Besides Finnair, Chan said Ethihad Airlines and Cebu Pacific would also start flying to Kuala Lumpur next year. 

“Kuwait Airlines will also fly to Kuala Lumpur before the end of this year,” he said, adding that 50 foreign airlines now operated flights to KLIA.