Finnair’s Asian cargo on the up

AN eastward expansion plan set into motion last year has borne fruit for Finnair’s Asian cargo operations.

Finnair’s cargo segment in the region grew by 41 per cent in January compared with the same period of 2010.

“A pick-up in demand, particularly in traffic between Europe and Asia, and the impact of cargo aircraft traffic launched in May last year are evident in cargo growth,” Finnair’s chief financial officer Erno Hilden said.

In 2010 the airline launched freighter flights to Hong Kong and Seoul in May after converting the last two MD-11s in its passenger fleet into freighter configuration.