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HELSINKI—Following a new collective labor agreement (CLA) with its pilots, Finnair plans to add more Embraer E190s to the fleet operated by its Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra) unit.
“We are interested in increasing the number of jets operating by Norra from 12 to 18 aircraft, a 50% increase,” Finnair CEO Turkka Kuusisto told Aviation Week on Feb. 24 in Helsinki.
Norra currently operates 12 E190s and 12 ATR 72-500s, utilizing them on regional routes from its Helsinki-Vantaa hub to Europe as well as for domestic flights in Finland.
Asked whether the ATR fleet would be reduced considering the influx of jets, Kuusisto said the turboprops will remain in service. “Thanks to the new CLA with Finnair pilots, we can increase the number of jets operated by Norra from 12 to 18,” he said, adding the airline is already exploring the secondhand market for more E190s.
“We are also refurbishing the interiors of the Embraer that we are operating. Nine out of twelve aircraft have already been refurbished. That is an investment for the near term future,” Kuusisto said.
Norra was originally known as Flybe Nordic and has been through a series of ownership changes since 2015, when UK-based regional operator Flybe exited its 60% stake in the joint venture.
Asked for any news regarding Finnair’s long-awaited narrowbody aircraft order, Kuusisto said that when the airline started its narrowbody campaign approximately a year ago, it understood the limitations and boundaries in the current supply chain environment. “We are actually exploring new aircraft, new aircraft through lessors. But we are taking a diligent course when it comes to a so-called mid-term capacity solution; we are also evaluating secondary aircraft markets,” Kuusisto said.
Finnair’s mainline fleet comprises 15 Airbus A319/320s, 14 A321s, seven A330-300s (of which two are on wet-lease and two are on dry-lease to Qantas) and 18 A350-900s. Finnair’s final A350-900 will be delivered by the end of 2026, completing its current outstanding orders.
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