Finnair modifies ten of its A350s to carry more customers and cargo

To enhance capacity on its Asian flights, Finnair has upgraded ten of its newest A350s to accommodate more passengers and cargo. As demand for flights to and from Asia has increased, Finnair has collaborated with aircraft manufacturer Airbus to raise the maximum take-off weight for a specifically chosen number of its aircraft.

Modifications made involve minor changes and updates to the aircraft’s software and placards and manuals in cooperation with Airbus. Finnair made the changes to aircraft which regularly serve Seoul and Tokyo, two of the longer intercontinental routes.

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Each route has been made longer following the closure of Russian airspace which has forced Finnair to replan its flights and detour around Russia, consuming more fuel than used previously. The normally lighter take-off weight had limited the number of customers and the amount of cargo each aircraft could carry, given the extended flight times.

But now after the modifications, each aircraft can carry more customers and cargo – and importantly more fuel to fly the longer flight times between Finland and South Korea and Japan – as well as increasing the economic efficiency of each flight. These modifications form part of Finnair’s strategy to restore profitability and increase payloads, in spite of airspace closures and increased flight times.

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The maximum take-off weight increase enables more customers and cargo to be carried, with the total capacity expected to be increased by up to eight tonnes, depending on the aircraft’s respective maximum take-off weight, route as well as flight times conditions.

The aircraft software compensates for the centre of gravity change and maintains the same handling characteristics, meaning that flying the aircraft does not change. The modifications were completed during the two first weeks in January, and operation with the new maximum takeoff weight began on 18 January.