Emirates has launched its first scheduled service to Helsinki, with flight EK167 departing Dubai at 07:30 this morning carrying a near-full passenger and cargo load alongside an inaugural delegation of officials and dignitaries from both countries.
The daily route, operated on an Airbus A350, is the only year-round direct link between the UAE and Finland. Emirates says the service connects Helsinki to nearly 140 points on its global network, including destinations across Australia, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The A350 configuration seats 298 passengers across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins. Emirates has tailored the onboard dining to the route, with menus featuring juniper-marinated centre-cut salmon, seared venison with sage butter and blackberry sauce, and lingonberry marble cheesecake with berry compote.
On the cargo side, Emirates SkyCargo will offer up to 16 tonnes of bellyhold capacity per flight, supporting two-way trade in pharmaceuticals, electronics, machinery, timber and perishables. The UAE is Finland’s largest trading partner in the Gulf, and the airline said the new route is expected to deepen commercial ties between the two countries.
The inaugural flight carried a delegation reflecting areas of bilateral interest, including cybersecurity, digital transformation, energy, trade and education. His Excellency Mohamed Rashid bin Taliah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Government Knowledge Exchange, joined the flight, as did Her Excellency Tuula Yrjölä, Ambassador of Finland to the UAE and Bahrain. The Emirates delegation was led by Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, alongside Jeffrey Van Heaften, Senior Vice President of Cargo Commercial Worldwide at Emirates SkyCargo.
