Finnair (AY, Helsinki Vantaa (HEL)) plans to use the first of five Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac (TLS)) sharklet-equipped A321-200s on its Helsinki Vantaa (HEL) to Dubai International (DXB) route with effect from March 30, 2014. Ordered in 2010, the Finnish carrier plans to use the jets to replace its ageing fleet of four B757-200 WIN.s, used primarily on leisure flights.

Finnair (AY, Helsinki Vantaa (HEL)) has sold its 4.69% stake Norwegian (DY, Oslo Gardermoen (OSL)) for approximately EUR 53million, making a capital gain of EUR 34million on the deal in the second quarter. The proceeds will be used for the acquisition of new long-haul aircraft needed in the development of the Finnish carrier's profitable routes to Asia. Shares in the Norwegian carrier were transferred to Finnair via a 2007 share swap as part of Finnair's sale of its then Swedish subsidiary, flynordic (LF, Stockholm Arlanda (ARN)), to Norwegian.

Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo International (SVO)) and Finnair (AY, Helsinki Vantaa (HEL)) are to soon face competition on the Moscow Sheremetyevo International (SVO) to Helsinki Vantaa (HEL) route after the Russian and Finnish governments recently revised their Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with provision now having been made for a second designated carrier from each country. According to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, the as-yet-unannounced airlines “will have seven frequencies per week” on the Moscow - Helsinki route effective from November 28. At present, Aeroflot makes full use of its allocated 14 weekly flights with Finnair using just 9 out of their allotment, of which 7 are under codeshare with the Russian national carrier. Historically very protective of its airline sector, Russia has, during the course of the last year, moved to liberalize a number of its BASAs, most notably with Italy and France, as it seeks out new markets for its own burgeoning airline industry.

Finnair (AY, Helsinki Vantaa (HEL)) will join the joint venture of International Airlines Group subsidiaries British Airways (BA, London Heathrow (LHR)) and Iberia (IB, Madrid Barajas (MAD)) with American Airlines (AA, Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW)) later this year. The carriers have agreed to share revenues and costs of Finnair's daily A330-300 service between Helsinki and New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK). Summer only seasonal services from Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) to Helsinki by American and from Helsinki to Toronto Lester B. Pearson International (YYZ) by Finnair will not be included in the joint venture.

Air Contractors (AG, Dublin International (DUB)) will reportedly add three B757-200s to its fleet to operate the aircraft on behalf of Aer Lingus (EI, Dublin International (DUB)) on a wet-lease basis from fall 2013. According to UK and Ireland fleet list website Jethro's, the aircraft will be coming from Finnair (AY, Helsinki Vantaa (HEL)) which will start replacing its four remaining B757-200s by new A321-200s from September.