Airlines

Finnair Collaborates with IAG Loyalty to Embrace Avios Starting 2024

Finnair Rolls Out Free Rescheduling Options for Passengers Amid February Strikes

Beginning in early 2024, Finnair will update its Finnair Plus loyalty programme by making Avios its new loyalty currency.

Finnair Plus members, both current and new, will have more possibilities to accrue and spend the program’s new reward currency as a result of the partnership with IAG reward to adopt Avios. Additionally, a new spend-based platform will be used by the Finnair Plus programme.

Avios can now be spent on British Airways Holidays bookings(Opens in a new browser tab)

When members hit specific point thresholds within their current tier, the programme will provide new milestone advantages that will allow them to gain extra prizes like upgraded benefits.

Additionally, regardless of their tier status, members of Finnair Plus will now have free messaging-related internet access as a new perk on Finnair’s short-haul European flights operated by the narrow-body Airbus aircraft. This is an added incentive to sign up for the programme.

In addition, Finnair will spend money on new, larger lounge facilities on the Schengen side of Helsinki Airport, which serves as its primary hub. A special area will be reserved for top-tier members when the lounge relocates to new space in 2024. Before the new lounge opens, the present Schengen lounge will continue to service guests.

British Airways makes first flight into Beijing Daxing, the airport of the future(Opens in a new browser tab)

Finnair will start using Avios as its new loyalty currency in the first quarter of 2024, giving Finnair Plus customers new chances to accrue and redeem loyalty points on partner airlines. This applies to online purchases made with thousands of top brands through shopping.ba.com and with IAG Loyalty’s expanding global network of partners, which includes BP, Nectar, and Uber in the UK, Areas airport retail, Cabify in Spain, and Bilt in the US.

Finnair’s oneworld partners British Airways Executive Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and Iberia Plus all use Avios as their preferred method of payment. The value of the current Finnair Plus award miles will be converted to Avios at a 3:2 ratio, and the price of Avios will also be updated at the same rate.

Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

Top 10 Best Airlines in the World by AirHelp Survey

These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.