Finnair claims fastest way to get to Europe

Finnair, the government backed airline of Finland, will make its inaugural flight between Singapore and Helsinki Monday.

With a flight time of just 11 hours and 30 minutes, it claims to be the fastest way to get between Singapore and Europe.

The new route uses its new fleet of Airbus A350 XWBs, a widebody aircraft that claims to use 25-percent less fuel compared to its aluminum long-range competitors, like Boeing's B777. The aircraft, which first entered the market last year, offers passengers 18-inch wide seats as the standard in economy.

Finnair is the first European airline to fly the aircraft between Europe and Asia. As part of its marketing strategy, Finnair is boasting that the route provides regional travelers with the shortest connection between Asia and Europe, with layovers as little as 35 minutes to major hubs including London, Paris and Amsterdam.