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Emirates to Begin Flights to Helsinki (Finland) from October

Dergam Mousa

Emirates announced on Tuesday the launch of a daily route between Dubai and Helsinki, which will begin operations on October 1, 2026. This move marks the airline’s direct entry into the Finnish market and establishes the only year-round, regular, and direct link between Finland and the United Arab Emirates, a milestone with clear commercial and strategic implications.

This new operation consolidates Emirates’ presence in the Nordic countries and leverages a combination of existing demand, global connectivity, and a premium product, with a clear focus on corporate and long-haul travelers.

A Route Designed to Feed Emirates’ Global Network

The service will be operated with the Airbus A350, the most recent aircraft to join the company’s wide-body fleet. Flight EK167 will depart Dubai at 08:45, arriving in Helsinki at 14:55, while the return flight EK168 will depart the Finnish capital at 16:45, landing in Dubai at 00:20 the next day.

Emirates optimized the schedules to facilitate seamless connections to East and Southeast Asia—including Bangkok, Bali, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Singapore—as well as to Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Gulf, and all of Australia, with additional access to Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand. For Helsinki, this means direct integration into a network of over 150 global destinations.

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Existing Demand and a Bet on Premium Traffic

As explained by Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, the decision responds to an already established demand between Helsinki and Dubai, currently channeled via other Nordic hubs. The introduction of the direct flight aims to eliminate stopovers, elevate the service standard, and capture passengers who currently use alternative routes, thereby expanding the total market rather than redistributing it.

The use of the A350 is central to this strategy. With 298 seats distributed across three classes—Business, Premium Economy, and Economy—Emirates introduces its Premium Economy cabin in Finland from day one, reinforcing its positioning in the highest-yielding segment.

The model features bright cabins, comfort and technology improvements, multi-course regional menus designed by award-winning chefs, and access to more than 6,500 entertainment channels on the ice system.

Tourism, but also Cargo and Business

While tourism is a key pillar—Finland received around 5 million international tourists in recent years, according to Visit Finland—Emirates makes it clear that the route goes beyond leisure. Bilateral relations between Finland and the UAE are supported by sectors such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, digitalization, advanced technology, education, and sustainable development.

In this context, Emirates SkyCargo will play a relevant role. Each flight will offer up to 16 tons of cargo hold capacity, oriented towards transporting pharmaceuticals, electronics, machinery, perishables, and high-value cargo, leveraging Finland’s position as a European hub for advanced technological manufacturing and forest products.

Finland on Emirates’ Global Radar

The choice of Helsinki is significant. Finland was highlighted by Lonely Planet as one of the must-visit destinations for 2026, and for the eighth consecutive year it tops the ranking of the world’s happiest country. Nature, sustainability, and quality of life are elements that Emirates identifies as complementary to its value proposition.

The airline also emphasized the support of the Finnish government in materializing the route, a key factor in a European context increasingly demanding in regulatory and environmental terms.

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