FLYBE : EXPANDS FINNAIR CODESHARE OPTIONS

Customers offered yet more seamless connections to Asia with Finnair from additional destinations served by Flybe that now includes those from Birmingham, Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield and Southampton airports.

17th Janauary 2017

Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline, is pleased to announce the expansion of its codeshare partnership with Helsinki-based Finnair which will see the Finnish flag carrier extending its UK reach. Customers can now take advantage of yet more seamless connections with Finnair from an additional four European cities served by Flybe from Birmingham, Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield and Southampton airports.

Finnair's AY code has now been added to the following routes operated by Flybe:

• Cardiff/Doncaster-Sheffield/Birmingham/SouthamptontoParis Charles de Gaulle
• Birmingham/Southamptonto Dusseldorf
• Birmingham/Southampton/Doncaster-SheffieldtoAmsterdamand
• Birmingham to Berlin

The codeshare between the two airlines will now offer customers the ability to book flights direct from 11 UK airports with Finnair or through a travel agent. This offers Flybe customers greater connectivity from even more regional centres and the added opportunity to travel to and conduct business from all over the British Isles, apart from opening up Finland and Finnair's extensive Asian network to more travellers.

Vincent Hodder. Flybe's Chief Revenue Officer comments: "The extension of our well established codeshare partnership with Finnair now offers our customers yet more opportunity to travel to and from the UK regions. It gives both Flybe and Finnair increased network reach and reinforces our commitment to provide our customers with convenient seamless 'One Stop to the World' connections from their local airport."

Head of Partnerships and Alliances at Finnair, Philip Lewin adds: "Our growing partnership with Flybe will provide UK travellers with better travel options and even more convenient connections to Finnair's extensive network in Asia.

"Finnair customers will also be able to earn and redeem Finnair Plus points on any Flybe-operated flight that also carries Finnair's AY flight designator."

Flybe established its successful codeshare agreement with Finnair in 2014, to date, facilitating travel on Flybe operated routes between Manchester and eight UK regional airports - namely Aberdeen, Belfast City, Edinburgh, Exeter, Isle of Man, Jersey, Newquay and Southampton.

These continue to offer passengers seamless onward travel through Flybe's Manchester hub to Finnair destinations not only via Helsinki but also to those on its wider global network such as China, with timetables conveniently designed for optimal connections.

Issued by the Flybe press office: T: 0845 675 0681 E:[e-mail]

Notes to Editors:
About Flybe
Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline - 215 routes serving 10 countries from 77 departure points, 37 UK/40 European airports* (all routes on sale Nov'16 - Apr'17); Operates more UK domestic flights than any other airline (UK CAA May'15 - Apr'16); One of only two UK-based carriers in top 20 global airlines punctuality league table by OAG (Jan '16) and named top UK airline for punctuality in report issued by UK consumer watchdog Which? (Dec 2014); named 'Best Short-Haul Airline' at the 2016 Business Travel Awards (Jan '16); The largest scheduled airline by air traffic movements at Belfast City, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Isle of Man, Jersey, Manchester, Newquay and Southampton airports (UK CAA Apr '16); Operates fleet of 76 aircraft - 52 Bombardier Q400, 9 Embraer 195, 11 E175 & 5 ATR 72s; Codeshares with BA, Air France, Etihad, Finnair, Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Air India, Air Berlin and Singapore Airlines; 70% coverage of reporting airports (UK CAA Apr'16); Has its own globally recognised Training Academy in Exeter with flight deck and cabin crew simulator facilities, 26 classrooms and 150-seat conference facility.

*Flown under the Flybe brand