I assume there is little change in the Australian fares. Most of them are offered as SYD/MEL-BKK-HEL-XXX anyway and I didn't find any BKK-HEL cancellations. They just don't start flying BKK-KUL and cancel BKK-SIN to get the planes back from Asia faster. So if the cheap Australian fares didn't require a connection in Singapore, then everything should remain more or less the same?

I don't think it's a question of getting more aircraft. I assume they've got the money to rent some if they feel like it as they just did. My guess is that the problem is actually HEL running out of gates every afternoon in the non-schengen area and you just don't load/unload an A340 with buses if you want to be quick about it. The HEL expansion will be ready in 2009 and they'll get new gates then but before that they're probably not able to expand their Asian network much more.

HEL is already a nightmare on every afternoon at about 4PM. The lounges are packed and people are drinking their GTs standing as every seat is occupied. Also, the three always full UK flights departing between 4 and 6PM seem to be from the 31abcde bus gates. It seems to take forever to get everyone on an A321 on board on time by bus and they never depart on time anymore.

So sadly it seems that adding a couple of A340s there before the expansion departing on a popular time isn't an option for them.

/hv