Finnair seeks closer sync with Qantas, Jetstar and 'Qantasia'

In brief: Finnair isn't worried about the impact of Qantas' changes to its international services – indeed, the Finnish flag-carrier wants to ramp up its cooperation with Qantas in all forms.

Mika Vehviläinen, Finnair CEO, says The Red Roo's revised international operations will have "minimal impact" on feeding passengers through to Helsinki.

"Hong Kong and Singapore remain very successful for us, especially Singapore which began very recently" Vehviläinen told Australian Business Traveller.

"Traffic out of Australia through Bangkok has been very limited because Bangkok is primarily a destination for the Scandinavian leisure market, Hong Kong and Singapore are more for business and there's also more transit traffic."

And the forthcoming changes to Qantas' international services will only provide more opportunities. Finnair began to codeshare with Jetstar in February and Vehviläinen says he is "absolutely" looking to expand inter-airline flights with Qantas, Jetstar and potentially Qantas' as-yet unnamed premium Asian airline.

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.