While Finnair Cargo awaits
its big capacity boost, which will ride along with its all-new A350XWB
aircraft, the first of 19 aircraft commence induction into the AY fleet
toward the end of 2015.
But cargo steps up on June 30 as Finnair
Head of Cargo Antti Kuusenmäki presides over the laying of a cornerstone
for a new dedicated air cargo handling facility to be constructed at the
carrier’s hub in Helsinki.
The new facility, which is expected to take
two years to complete, will feature 31,000 square meters that will enhance
space solutions and add automation and a production management system.
The terminals will be divided into three
zones with 25,000 sq. meters reserved for general cargo handling, and
two areas or 6,000 sq. meters for temperature-controlled zones—one
for pharmaceutical and one for handling foodstuffs and general perishables.
New storage automation is being engineered
into the plan, designed to support Finnair’s cargo flows, especially
for AY Cargo’s vibrant transit traffic.
Finnair Cargo reports that its second freighter
hub at Brussels Airport has strengthened its global cargo offering and
boosted efficient and fast transcontinental cargo flows (Asia–Europe–America).
“Our current network provides Central
European customers with fast connection to Finnair’s extensive Asian
network of belly cargo to 12 Asian destinations during Summer 2015,”
the carrier said.
At BRU the carrier features two weekly freighter
rotations with flights on Saturdays as well as Sunday evening-Monday morning.
In addition, twice-weekly A340 passenger aircraft
service are flown on Wednesdays and Thursdays as well as 2-3 daily narrow
body flights, connecting to Finnair flights between Helsinki and 15 long-haul
destinations for a total of 90 weekly direct wide-body passenger and freighter
flights between Europe, Asia, and the U.S. via Helsinki and Brussels.
Last week the carrier launched seasonal
service to both Chicago and Toronto.
The Chicago route, opened on June 13, is
flown with Airbus A330 on Mondays, Thursday, and Saturdays.
The Toronto route, opened on June 14, features
A330 flights operated on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Geoffrey |
