Finnair said on Oct. 15 that it has approved a new long-term plan that focuses on developing Europe-Asia services with a future goal of also boosting North America-Asia service by turning Helsinki Vantaa into a significant connecting hub.

"We will take advantage of Helsinki's geographical location even more extensively," President and CEO Jukka Hienonen said. "In years to come, the airspace and terminal facilities of large European airports are likely to become increasingly congested while Helsinki Vantaa Airport has plenty of room for construction and possibilities for development."

Finnair said total annual passengers carried are expected to rise from 9 million currently to more than 20 million by 2017. "If the demand in air traffic continues to increase, within 10 years we expect to carry well over 3 million passengers annually in our intercontinental traffic between Europe, Asia and North America," Hienonen said.

Focus in the near term will be on Europe-Asia growth, he stated, adding that the most "interesting future cooperation candidates are to be found among the Asian oneworld airline partners."