Finnair marks 10 years of oneworld membership

Finnair has celebrated the fact that this month marks the tenth anniversary of its integration into the oneworld airline alliance.

The Helsinki-based carrier became part of the oneworld group in September 1999, the year the coalition was founded.

It is now one of ten full members of the alliance, along with American Airlines, British Airways, Royal Jordanian and six others.

Finnair's oneworld membership contributes "significant additional passenger numbers" to its route network in Asia, the airline said, as it enables easier connections to flights operated by Qantas, Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Nearly a third of all passengers on Finnair's flights in south-east Asia connect to another service provided by a oneworld member.

Outi Koponen, manager of the airline's oneworld relations, said: "Membership of the oneworld alliance in general has brought huge advantages to Finnair customers, because it means that Finnair is able to offer a nearly 700-destination route and service network as well as frequent-flyer benefits on all oneworld airline flights."

It was recently announced that the first section of the new terminal complex at Helsinki Airport had been opened to intercontinental passenger traffic.

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