Ministry for Foreign Affairs to arrange three repatriation flights on Friday 27 March 

On Friday 27 March 2020, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs together with Finnair will organise three repatriation flights for travellers returning to Finland. The flights will be from Cyprus and Portugal. Tickets for these flights can be bought via Finnair’s ticket sales.

Paphos, Cyprus at 13.15 (AY7054)

Funchal, Portugal (Madeira) at 16.40 (AY1732)

Faro, Portugal at 12.00 (noon) (AY7052)

 

“The decision to fly from these travel destinations is based on information received from Finnish missions abroad. According to them, dozens of Finnish travellers are staying at these destinations without any other real possibilities to return to Finland. In addition, considerable difficulties are caused by restrictions imposed by local authorities especially in Cyprus,” says Antti Putkonen, Director of the Unit for Consular Assistance.

 

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish missions abroad will continue to advise and assist travellers in returning from abroad. The preferred option to return to Finland is still via normal or additional commercial air connections. The need for supported repatriation flights will be assessed on a daily basis in light of the changing situation in the world.

 

The repatriation flights will be available also for returning citizens of other Nordic countries and EU Member States. The final cost to the State will depend on the airplanes’ seat occupancy rate. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will publish the final total cost of the repatriation flights after the flights are over.