Emirates will launch daily nonstop service between Dubai and Helsinki starting in October, adding a year-round long-haul link to Finland as the carrier continues to expand its European network and target Asia-bound connecting traffic.
The new route will begin Oct. 1 and will be operated with Airbus A350 aircraft featuring business class, premium economy and economy cabins. The move puts the Gulf carrier into direct competition with Finnair, which currently serves the Helsinki-Dubai market during the winter season with daily A350-900 flights.
“There is already strong demand between Helsinki and Dubai, with travelers connecting through our other Nordic gateways, so introducing direct, year-round connectivity is a natural next step,” Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim says.
Kazim adds that the airline expects the route to stimulate new demand beyond existing flows. “In addition to better serving current demand, we see potential to attract travelers who may have previously opted for alternative connections, growing the overall market,” he says.
Emirates says the schedule has been designed to support onward connectivity to destinations across East and Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East.
The Helsinki launch adds to Emirates’ sizable European presence.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, the airline currently serves 40 destinations across Europe, operating roughly 81 daily departures.
Helsinki has not had sustained year-round service to the Gulf since flydubai, Emirates’ sister carrier, ended operations in March 2022.
Neither Etihad Airways nor Qatar Airways currently serves the Finnish capital. Qatar Airways previously operated the Doha-Helsinki route before transferring the service to Oneworld partner Finnair in late 2022.
The addition of Emirates’ Dubai service comes amid renewed long-haul network activity at Helsinki Airport. Earlier in January, Aviation Week reported China Southern Airlines plans to launch nonstop service between Beijing Daxing and Helsinki, marking the airport’s first direct link to Northern Europe from mainland China as Chinese carriers continue to expand their European footprints.
At the same time, Finnair is pursuing selective long-haul growth despite ongoing constraints from closed Russian airspace. The Nordic carrier plans to launch daily service between Helsinki and Melbourne via Bangkok in October 2026, its first scheduled route to Australia, as it reallocates capacity toward markets where demand and yields remain resilient.
While Finnair continues to adjust its Asia strategy to account for longer routings and higher operating costs, Emirates is positioning Helsinki as another spoke feeding its Dubai hub, particularly for Asia-Pacific traffic. The airline says the new route will also strengthen trade links between Finland and the UAE, with expected cargo flows including pharmaceuticals, electronics, machinery and other high-value goods.
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