At Helsinki-Vantaa Airport you can already sense the up-coming holiday season. The terminals are lightened up both on the outside and on the inside with Christmas lights and Christmas trees. The Finnair check-in desks are decorated with little green cypress tress. During December many music and song groups perform at the airport in the early morning and during afternoon peak hours. Santa Claus himself makes a few visits as well, despite his busy schedule. A list of the performers can be found on Finavia's Internet pages.
Since November two of Finnair’s Boeing MD-11 and one Airbus A340-300E aircraft have been flying both to New York and Asia with a big Santa Claus livery on the side of aircraft, much to the enjoyment of children around the world. When passengers step onboard and leave the aircraft, Christmas music is played in the background. The in-flight magazine Blue Wings, which is found in the seat pocket, features a story about Christmas markets in different European cities.
The Christmas theme is visible inside the cabin for example on the head-rest covers in Economy Class and on the red place mats used on the meal trays. In Business Class on intercontinental flights we serve the traditional warm glogg (hot mulled wine made with a potpourri of spices) and cookies between December 21 and December 27. Starting December 14, we also serve a Christmas menu on intercontinental flights departing from Helsinki and on European flights flying towards Helsinki. Our cabin crew is wearing Christmas scarfs or ties and red aprons when serving the passengers onboard. On intercontinental flights one of the films shown is the new Finnish movie Christmas Story.