Finnair to launch flights to Chongqing

Finnair (IATA:AY ) today announced that it will be launching flights to Chongqing, China, from May 2012. Chongqing will become the carrier's third mainland, and fourth overall, Chinese destination after Beijing, Shanghai and the SAR of Hong Kong.
Finnair plans to fly to Chongqing four times a week, on board Airbus A340 aircraft. The flight time is expected to be about 8.5 hours. A flight schedule was not immediately announced.
Commenting on the route launch, Finnair President and CEO Mika Vehviläinen, said "China is a key part of our Europe- Asia strategy. Western China is an important growth area, and the new route will strengthen our market share in the growing Asian markets. In addition to Chongqing, Finnair flies to Beijing, Shanghai and to Hong Kong with a total of 26 weekly flight,".
The airline's choice of Chongqing as its next Chinese destination, over the more established Chengdu, Shenzhen or the larger Guangzhou is quite interesting. But it nevertheless seems to be a very logical move given that all of the aforementioned destinations are getting increasingly overcrowded.
It will be interesting to watch how this route works out for Finnair.