Finnair held an investor web conference and announced its future fleet plans.
For the Embraer E195-E2, the airline has placed a firm order for 18 aircraft, in addition to 16 options and 12 purchase rights. It expects to receive 3 aircraft in 2027, and 6 aircraft each in 2028 and 2029. Furthermore, Finnair will acquire up to 12 Airbus A320ceo and Airbus A321ceo aircraft from the used aircraft market.
The Embraer E195-E2 aircraft will be allocated to Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra) and will start entering service from the second half of 2027. The aircraft will have 134 seats in a 2-2 configuration, with a seat pitch of 29–30 inches, which is almost the same as Finnair’s current single-aisle aircraft. All seats will feature recline, high-output USB power outlets, and Wi-Fi. Reflecting customer feedback, a third lavatory will be installed. With a range of approximately 5,000 kilometers, the aircraft can cover destinations from Helsinki to Spain, Italy, and the northern Mediterranean. Regarding the combination of firm orders, purchase rights, and options, Finnair explained that this is to ensure it can respond to market conditions and reliably cover the retirement of its Airbus aircraft.
The Airbus A320ceo and Airbus A321ceo will replace the Airbus A319ceo and Airbus A320ceo aircraft that are more than 23 years old. This approach is “a very cost-effective way to replace aging aircraft” (Chief Financial Officer Pia Artonen-Forssell). If Finnair were to place an order for new-build Airbus aircraft at this point, delivery would not take place until 2032 or 2033. The introduction of used aircraft will serve as a bridge until then.
By developing regional routes and intra-European routes, Finnair will be able “to fill widebody aircraft on Asian and North American routes more efficiently” (Chief Executive Officer Topi Kuusisto). He also explained that, compared with the era when overflying Russian airspace was possible, the size of the fleet is almost the same, but the network has changed. He added that “the Nordic market has many smaller destinations that are better suited to smaller aircraft.”
Finnair is also considering the introduction of used Embraer E1 series and ATR aircraft. The plan calls for the introduction of 4 Embraer E1 series aircraft and 4 or 6 ATR aircraft, with the aim of taking delivery as early as within this year. These aircraft are intended as a stopgap until the Embraer E195-E2 aircraft are introduced.
Regarding the current situation in the Middle East, CFO Forssell said that the situation is “extremely unstable also in terms of jet fuel,” and continued, “It is a very serious situation that is currently affecting everyone around the world and, of course, also affecting the aviation industry. From a short-term perspective, we have already disclosed the hedging position based on our policy, and we can say that this provides a certain level of protection in the short term. From a long-term perspective, we have already taken several measures.”
After the spread of COVID-19 and the closure of Russian airspace due to the Russia–Ukraine war, Finnair restructured its network. It strengthened its financial base, obtained a BB+ credit rating, and resumed shareholder dividends. The airline forecasts an average annual growth rate of 4% over the next 10 years, which it expects to achieve through continued network expansion. In 2026, Finnair plans to launch services to 14 new cities.
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