Finnair Cargo is to operate Airbus A350s on its London Heathrow – Helsinki route five times a week from 5 October.

It already uses A350s on its Monday, Friday and Sunday services between the UK and Finland, and the additional services will operate on Wednesdays and Thursdays, replacing the Airbus A320s it currently operates. Finnair upgraded services on the two hour 55 minute flight to meet demand for capacity and cargo on the route.

Finnair Cargo head of global sales, Fredrik Wildtgrube says: “We are delighted to offer our cargo customers additional regular capacity to/from London Heathrow with the ultra-modern Airbus A350XWB.”

Finnair operates A350s on its Bangkok, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing and Seoul routes, with Singapore to follow in October. The airline has 19 A350s on order and plans to phase out its Airbus A340s by the end of 2017, with its widebody fleet entirely consisting of Airbus A330s and A350s.