New Delhi: Finnish flag carrier Finnair will expand its operations in India from June next year with five flights a week between New Delhi and Helsinki.

"Finnair will operate a service between Delhi and Helsinki from Tuesday to Saturday and from Helsinki to Delhi from Monday to Friday each week," said Taina Tornstrom, director (Indian subcontinent), Finnair.

"We are expecting a large number of Indian visitors to Finland and other Scandinavian countries using Helsinki as a hub. The increase in frequency from thrice a week to five times will help tap this potential," Tornstrom told sources.

"Also, Helsinki to New Delhi is the shortest route between India and the European Union. So it is of genuine interest to travellers between these destinations," hse said.

At present Finnair - which started its scheduled operations to India at the end of October has flights from Helsinki reaching here on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the return service operates on the following days.

"We are quite encouraged by the initial response. After Delhi, Finnair also has plans to start operations from either Mumbai or Chennai. Our target is to add at least one Asian destination every year," Tornstrom said.

"Next year, Finnair would be starting its flights from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Then we may move on to another Indian city," she added.

Finnair is eager to expand its operations in Asia as almost a third of its revenue now comes from its operations in this region, Tornstrom said.

"India is high on our agenda and we will like to increase our presence here," she said.