Helping Helsinki and Finnair !

Helsinki Airport is an airport is located in Vantaa which is also serves Helsinki to the world. The airport is the primary hub for Finnair, Flybe Nordic and Scandinavian Airlines' Blue 1. Finnair is the largest operator for the airport and serves regional and long haul routes. Finnair claimed that its hub strategically located between North America, Europe and Asia and also, claimed to be shortest way flying to European and North America from Asia. Moreover, This airport has reportedly to be most efficient airport for connecting flights. However, compare to other hubs  in European (AMS, CDG, FRA, ZRH, CPH), Helsinki far behind. This due to several reasons:

1. The  numbers of destinations (long - haul flights) are limited especially in North America. Currently, Finnair is the only carrier is flying to New York - JFK. Other that, Toronto - Pearson for seasonal service. Thus, most passengers probably shifted to other airports due to more destinations served.
2. In addition, there are no airlines (including Finnair) flying to Middle East and India which are currently the most fatest growing air traffic and passengers movement in the world.
3. Frequency of the flights flying (especially JFK and Asian) are also limited. Most flights serving are daily flights except to Narita (Japan Airlines and  Finnair flying daily flights making twice daily flights) which gives less option to travel as well as limited seat capacity.
4. There are less numbers of airlines operate into the airport reflecting less passengers movement, and demands.
   
   Figure 1: Show the current long haul routes served by Finnair

However, from my view, I believe Helsinki airport has potential becoming major hub in Europe. Therefore, in order to improve connectivity and becoming of the most important transit hubs in Europe. I would like the suggest several ideas:

1. Finnair need to identify its exisiting (and profit) long haul routes which have higher demand. Then, increasing the frequency by adding more flights and seat capacities. Based on seats capacities in figure 2 shows that  Helsinki - Hong Kong, Beijing, Nagoya and Narita have potential to increase its frequency.  
   
   Figure 2: Seat capacity for each long haul routes 
   
   
2. Finnair should add flights to North America such as Washington - Dulles, Chicago, Boston, Toronto - Pearson, Montreal, Seattle or Vancouver. Moreover, more flights also add to India, Middle East especially to Middle East Big 3s' hub in Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.
3. Finnair and Finavia should promoting Helsinki airport to Oneworld alliance member as transit hub. Thus, it may help finnair carry more passengers and easy for connection. Currently, Japan Airlines is the only operating from Tokyo - Narita by utilizing its new Boeing 787 - 8.
4. Finnair need to position itself in the region and Europe by adding and increasing flights to major European cities. More flights need to add especially to European capital cities as well as adjusted timetable for better connectivity fot transit passengers. 
5. Finavia need agressively promoting Helsinki airport especially airlines from North America and Asian. Moreover, Finavia need to offer attractive incentives and promoting for the new operator flying into Helsinki airport.