Finnair and Edinburgh Airport are marking a decade of continuous direct services between Edinburgh and Helsinki, ten years on from the route’s launch on 18 April 2016.
Passengers departing the Scottish capital were treated to a small celebration at the gate to commemorate the milestone, ahead of their journey to Finland – recently reaffirmed as the world’s happiest country for 2026 in the United NationsWorld Happiness Report.
The route’s history stretches back further, with Finnair having first operated seasonal services in 2006 and 2007. The airline relaunched the connection in 2016 with three weekly flights, before steadily expanding it into a year-round operation. Today, the carrier operates up to seven flights per week, underlining strong and sustained demand from both business and leisure travellers.
Anssi Partanen, European Market Director at Finnair, said the airline was “honoured” to have worked closely with Edinburgh Airport over the past decade.
“We have been proud to grow the route from a seasonal service to a year-round operation, reflecting its importance to both business and leisure travellers,” he said. “The connection between Nordic and Scottish culture also makes this route particularly special.”
Stephanie Wear, Chief Commercial Officer at Edinburgh Airport, highlighted the strength of the partnership and the importance of onward connectivity.
“The connectivity Finnair provides, not only between Edinburgh and Helsinki but to destinations across the globe, has been central to the route’s success,” she said. “Its appeal to both business and leisure travellers ensures it continues to generate strong and lasting demand.”
Via its Helsinki hub, Finnair offers transfer times from as little as 40 minutes, providing convenient access to destinations across the Nordics and Baltics. The airline also connects Scottish passengers to key Asian cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai and Seoul.
Looking ahead, the airline is set to expand its long-haul offering further, with new connections to Melbourne launching from October – marking the first time Finnair will serve the Australian city.
Having celebrated its centenary in 2023, Finnair continues to invest in the passenger experience on its Edinburgh route, aiming to deliver a distinctly Finnish onboard offering from departure to arrival.