Announced on October 16th, 2012, Finnair and Flybe have signed an agreement which will have Flybe operate Finnair’s Embraer 190 aircraft as of October 28, 2012.
Under the agreement, Finnair will transfer the operation of its twelve 100-seat Embraer 190 aircraft to Flybe and Flybe will operate these aircraft for Finnair as contract flights. Finnair will continue to be responsible for sales, marketing and customer support for these flights.
This decision by Finnair is part of an ongoing drive by the airline to reduce its ongoing costs in various sections of the company, with the goal of decreased annual costs of 140 million euros by 2014.
Some of the previous changes have included a partnership agreement with LSG Sky Chefs Group in which LSG assumed full responsibility for Finnair Catering Oy from August 1, 2012 onwards and the outsourcing of Finnair’s engine and component services to SR Technics from the third quarter of 2012. The airline also has returned four Airbus 320s to their lessor in 2012, and subleased five Embraer 170 aircraft to replace them.
Further changes in Finnair’s structure are expected to be announced before the end of 2012.
