Finland plans to extend flight ban over Russia

Finnair CEO Topi Manner has said that the ban on flights over Russia could last for many years.

The company's updated strategy is focused on flights to North America, India and the Middle East, Manner told the Finnish TV channel YLE.

“We do not know how long this will last - two, five or ten years, and therefore we must change our strategy and adapt to the fact that Russian airspace will remain closed for a long time. The role of Middle Eastern airports in communication between East and West is growing, and Doha in Qatar is turning into a major transport hub,” he noted.

Finnair's increase in flights to the Gulf countries will bring closer cooperation with Qatar Airways. Finnair hopes this will help offset the loss of passenger traffic aroused after air travel bans over Russia, according to YLE.

Manner added that the company plans to increase flights to the US and South Asia, including India. He noted that he does not yet expect Finnair to resume flights to China due to the zero-tolerance policy for the coronavirus (COVID-19).