Suomi Boeing 767-200ER (1993)

Suomi Airlines

IATA - OF

ICAO - FIF

Callsign - SUOMI

Boeing 767-200ER

​OH-SMK

Expansion continued for Suomi Airlines as the success of the company grew, quickly becoming a nationally recognized brand within the leisure market, and soon becoming the preferred airline of choice for holidaymakers across Finland. With this came the purchase of Finnish tour operator Finnlomat, further expanding Suomi Airlines' reach in the leisure market. Due to the expansion of the Suomi Leisure Group through the acquisition of Finnlomat, Suomi Airlines required larger, longer-range aircraft outside the capabilities of the airline's eight-strong fleet of Boeing 757-200's and as such brought about the lease of two Boeing 767-200ER the first of which was delivered to Suomi Airlines in July of 1994. Suomi Airlines chose the Boeing 767-200ER as their long-range type due to its commonality with the Boeing 757 and with it being the smaller of the 767 variants it allowed for lower capacity should expansion into the long-haul market prove unsuccessful.

The introduction of the Boeing 767-200ER allowed Suomi Airlines to launch services to destinations across Asia, Africa, and North America. With both aircraft being leased from other airlines, this allowed Suomi to test the new routes and their viability before making a long-term commitment to purchasing wide-body aircraft. The airlines' expansion would prove largely successful and with that came the order for five Boeing 767-300ER variants, with deliveries beginning in April 1995 and ending in December 1996. As the last Boeing 767-300ER variant was delivered to Suomi, the final Boeing 767-200ER would operate its flight from Bangkok to Helsinki before returning to its owner.