Helsinki - Finnish flag carrier Finnair is set to get a new chief executive in January, the group announced Wednesday.

Mika Vehvilainen will join the group on January 5, taking over from Jukka Hienonen at the end of the month.

Vehvilainen, 48, is currently chief operating officer at Nokia Siemens Networks, the 50-50 joint venture between Finland's Nokia and Germany's Siemens.

Finnair, like several other airlines, is struggling with lower passenger demand and losses in the wake of the global economic downturn.

Vehvilainen said in a comment that "to improve competitiveness" Finnair management and personnel "will have to cooperate closely."

Hienonen announced his resignation in August after four years, and expressed regret that among others the pilots had not accepted proposed changes to improve the carrier's competitiveness. (dpa)