FINNAIR welcomes its first Airbus A350 WXB aircraft on October 7 having already ordered 19 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft to be delivered from 2015-2023.

Finnair's first Airbus A350 XWB enters into long-haul service on November 21 when it flies from Helsinki to Shanghai. The next A350 long haul destinations include Beijing, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Finnair will also take the aircraft to New York later this year, becoming the first airline in the world to fly to the US with this new aircraft type, said the company statement.

"We are excited about welcoming the first A350 aircraft into our fleet, and look forward to introducing it to our customers," says Finnair chief operating officer Ville Iho.

"For the first few weeks, the new aircraft will serve crew familiarisation flights in Europe, with the first commercial flights taking place on October 9 to Amsterdam and Oslo," he said.

Finnair has adjusted its Airbus A350 long-haul launch schedule, due to changes in delivery schedules of the company's first A350 aircraft, the needs of the crew familiarisation programme and other operational factors.

The company wants to offer the best possible customer experience for its customers, and has therefore adopted a slightly more conservative launch schedule than previously indicated.

"Introducing 19 new aircraft into our fleet over a period of eight years is a major programme for Finnair. We have built the necessary flexibility into our preparedness and our A340 exit to adjust to any changes," he said.

Finnair flies between Asia, Europe and North America with an emphasis on fast connections via Helsinki, carrying more than nine million passengers annually and connecting 15 cities in Asia with more than 60 destinations in Europe.