Fleet-changes
 

We might need a separate thread to keep up with fleet changes.


One ATR and two E170 are leaving the fleet within 2 months (latest by feb 2016). OH-LQA is leaving during H1 2016.

Two new A321 are arriving before summer 2016, leased on a temporary "damp-lease". Four new A321 are arriving H1 2017, leased on a long term dry-lease.

All A321 are high density 209 seaters. As noted earlier, all currently operated Airbus narrowbodies are being converted to high density configuration during 2017.

It was mentioned in the Finnish press, that due to Asian expansion AY needs new short-haul capacity/aircraft to feed those longhauls. Any idea, how are the front rows of the HD (high-density) A321?

The seating plan from Airbus says 220 seats with 28/29" pitch, suggesting some seats have slightly better picth even though it is labelled as an "all economy seating plan".
Finnair version claims row 1-8 is business, with row 1-4 marked as "permanent" business and 5-8 as business depending on load.

Finnair seat plan has 9 rows fitted between door 1 and 2 while Airbus has 10, however Finair has fitted cupboard, so I assume Finnair version is as dense as Airbus suggested seat plan. So perhaps row 1-4 has 29" pitch and the rest is 28".

To me all the airbus J cabins seem the the same, ie an economy seating with free drinks.

--Added
Finnair claims they are 209 seats with 31" pitch, wich simply is not physically possible.
http://www.finnairgroup.com/mediaen/...ss_706728.html

All current 209 seat A321s have better pitch on first few rows. Not sure how many tough...at least to row 5. And that on those rows the space is at least as good as current lower density A321/A320s.

The first eight rows have better pitch, yes you can feel the difference. It's visible on the seat map also:

http://www.finnair.com/go/2015.12-10...31_seatmap.jpg

That will make AY European flights really unpleasant and a nasty surprise for J passengers who have to endure those LCC sardine cans on their feeder flights.

Also, if the front storage chambers will be removed, then no more hanging your jacket in there in J and additional crowding of the overhead lockers.

Finnair is making itself really unappealing within Europe. Wonder how those JL codeshare passenger etc. used to reasonable comfort will feel on the LCC feeders?

Seat maps are artistic renderings. Try to overlap Finnair A350 seatmap with QR A350 and you will see that door 2 has different loactions on those seat Maps, despite planes being identical. I don't wouldn't trust any seat map.


Well they are, but service in Europe is so far fram acceptable anyway, so I doubt this will matter. And they will endure with a smile anyway. Entitled chinese pax is a bigger problem.


But I doubt Finnair will be able to keep a euro-business cabin for long if this is the path they are taking. SK plus cabin is a bad product, but it has better value for money than AY business class.

In this case the seat map and your knees agree ;) The difference is clear.

The spacing between Door 1 and 2 on the A321 is such that they cannot get an extra row in, hence the generous spacing. It could be fixed by readjusting the galleys/closets in front, but AY didn't go that far this time... LH did on the A320 Neo, so its coming...

I'm sure you are right, I just feel that it is cramped anyway.
To motivate those 6-800 € fares they should go true 2-2 seating and have proper pitch on say row 1-3.
Yeah, I know, it will never happen.


Funnily enough, it does look like they did put one row extra in, overlapping door2. They just removed A and F to keep the exit somewhat useable.

Hmm...Now would I rather fly CX J, say DUS/MAN/MXP - HKG in very comfortable longhaul J and then HKG - ICN/HND/PEK/PVG in reasonably comfy CX/KA regional J or choose a crappy LCC AY "J" DUS/MAN/MXP - HEL to be followed by the new AY 359 J still to prove itself?

And the same would apply to KE/OZ, JL or maybe even the "Jihadist trio" ;) EK, QR and TK.

I used to love the old Finnair Airbus 319 European J with their rather spacious seats, proper three course lunches and dinners & excellent "old school" service. Sniff, all is lost...

Yes, AY seems to have a very ambivalence towards shorthaul J. On one hand they decided to keep J and set the selves apart from the competition. OTOH they do their best to erase any benefit of that decision.

I don't really mind the empty-middle-seat type business concept for short haul. With no one sitting next to you, a seat like that gives you plenty of room. I feel like I wouldn't gain much from having the armrests more spaced out, and it would raise costs a lot.

Assuming the rest of the product is decent, of course.

And this Saturday, I was reminded why flying economy is a bad idea in more ways than service quality. The two people next to me on a morning flight had a very annoying conversation for two hours straight between HEL-LHR, but they were just barely quiet enough that I couldn't have accused them of shouting. Couldn't sleep or relax, which would never happen up front.

(And the return flight was so awful that I'm going to post about it in the negative feedback thread.)

Returning back to topic, the shortage of shorthaul aircraft continues. Temporary solution is FlyNiki:

I wonder if the HEL-TXL route will be operated by Nikis nice new 319 (Air Berlin) or the old ones flying for Germania.