Finnair Oyj - Company Announcement

TWIN-ENGINE AIRBUS AIRCRAFT TO REPLACE FINNAIR'S CURRENT MD-11 FLEET

FINNAIR PLC	STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE	17 SEPTEMBER 2007

TWIN-ENGINE AIRBUS AIRCRAFT TO REPLACE FINNAIR'S CURRENT MD-11 FLEET

Finnair will replace its Boeing MD-11 fleet with seven Airbus A330 wide body
aircraft in 2009-2010. Finnair is taking advantage of the possibility to change
its original order for four-engine A340 aircraft to the twin-engine A330 model.
Finnair currently has firm orders for six A330-300E model aircraft as well as
four options, one of which has now been confirmed. The acquisition is part of
the fleet modernisation programme agreed with Airbus at the start of this year. 

“We want to update our long-haul fleet as quickly as possible so that we can
serve our customers better. At the same time we will be able to benefit from
twin-engine technology which saves both fuel and the environment. After the
renewal we will have one of the most modern and eco-efficient fleets in
Europe,” says Finnair President and CEO Jukka Hienonen. 

Finnair currently operates seven MD-11 type aircraft, for which the leasing
agreements will end in such away that each departing aircraft is replaced with
a new Airbus. The first MD-11 will retire from the Finnair fleet already at the
end of next year. Next year Finnair's long-haul Airbus fleet will grow by two
Airbus A340-300E aircraft to five and the first A330 aircraft will arrive in
spring 2009. 

“We will have a total of 12 long-haul aircraft next year which will allow us to
realise our planned growth. At the end of the decade we can operate a 15
long-haul aircraft fleet, if we confirm our remaining options,” Hienonen
states. 

Both Airbus aircraft types have the same cabin. The total number of seats is
approximately 270 of which 42 are in Business Class. The aircraft models differ
in range and cargo capacity. 

“The A330 works well on shorter long-haul flights as well as on routes where
demand for cargo is smaller. The A340 can fly at full loads to our furthest
destinations. This brings flexibility to our capacity management.” 

The A330 consumes about 20 per cent less fuel than the current MD-11s. Even the
difference between the A340 is ten per cent. General Electric CF6-80E1A4/B
engines, which are a further developed version of the MD-11s engines, have been
chosen for the A330s. 

“In this way we can make use of the years of experience in General Electric
engine maintenance accumulated at Finnair Technical Division,” Hienonen
confirms. 

Finnair flies daily from Helsinki to New York and Bangkok, Delhi, Hong Kong,
Beijing, Osaka and Shanghai in Asia. Flights to Guangzhou, Mumbai, Nagoya and
Tokyo are operated 4-5 times a week. Finnair's Asian traffic will grow by 30
per cent this year and 20 per cent next year. A new route to Seoul, South Korea
will be launched next year. 

Finnair Plc
Communications
17.9.2007

Additional information: 

Lasse Heinonen, CFO, Finnair, tel. +358 9 818 4950