The first Ryanair’s flight to Helsinki Airport arrived from Vienna on Thursday 6 August. According to the Finnish airport operator (Finavia), the new air carrier "was warmly welcomed with a water salute."
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ryanair postponed the route opening from its original date in spring 2020.
The new Vienna-Helsinki flights will be operated three times a week by the Austrian-based low-cost airline Lauda. Ryanair bought Laudamotion GmbH in 2019.
Finavia says the newly opened route strengthens flight connections from Finland to Central Europe. It also increases to number of flights from Finland to Vienna and enables travelling to Austria according to current restrictions.
Collapse in flight
The effects of the coronavirus have been massive, causing a collapse in flight and passenger numbers. Because travel restrictions have gradually been lifted, air carriers and passengers are returning to Helsinki Airport according to current restrictions.
“Opening new routes is always a very positive thing for Finland. A new route opening and a new air carrier which operates to Helsinki, has an extremely important meaning for us. We hope that the coronavirus situation in the world improves, which makes it possible to end the current travel restrictions," says Finavia's Vice President Petri Vuori.
