Finnair secures deal to increase flights to Asia over Siberia

Finnair has been allowed to increase its flights from Helsinki to Asian destinations over Siberia according to a new deal between Russia and Finland, the ministry of transport and communications said on Friday. Finnair depends on attracting traffic flows between Europe and Asia to its Helsinki hub because of the relatively shorter distances flown, and the new deal increases the number of scheduled flights it can make over Siberia to 80 a week, from 65 currently. The ministry said the new rights meant Finnair can add routes to Japan, China and South Korea. "The agreement gives a good base for negotiations of commercial deals in the future," a Finnair spokesman said, but declined to specify plans. Finnair has struggled in recent years with tough competition from discount carriers, but cost savings and increased flights to Asia has helped it swing back into profit with the company paying its first dividend in April in four years. However, Finnair has repeatedly called on the government to open the door to mergers and acquisitions. It has urged the state, which owns 55.8% of Finnair, to scrap a clause that obliges it to hold a majority stake in the company.<br/>