Corporate News Archive

The design collaboration between Finnair and Marimekko enters a new phase as Finnair brings textiles and tableware designed by the iconic Finnish design and fashion house to its aircraft starting May 15. As an emblem of the cooperation, a Finnair Airbus 330 was unveiled today with a blue-forest livery based on the Marimekko print Metsänväki (“forest dwellers”). The plane will fly from Finnair’s Helsinki hub to the airline’s 13 Asian destinations plus New York, joining a sister aircraft painted in Marimekko’s Unikko (“poppy”) print last October.

As part of the collaboration, a selection of Marimekko for Finnair items is also available for purchase, both through inflight sales and the Finnair PlusShop.

”With our Marimekko cooperation, we want to bring timeless yet modern Finnish design to the travel experience of Finnair customers,” says Anssi Komulainen, Senior Vice President, Customer Service. ”From mid-May onwards, our Business Class customers will enjoy their in-flight meals from tableware tailor-made for Finnair by Marimekko, and Marimekko napkins, blankets, pillows and head rest covers will be introduced during summer. The same classic prints are featured in Economy Class paper cups, headrest covers, fleece blankets and pillows.”

The Marimekko for Finnair collection was designed according to the airline’s needs by Marimekko designer Sami Ruotsalainen in collaboration with Kristina and Emma Isola, in original Marimekko patterns by Maija Isola. The blue, green and grey colours and the classic prints used in the collection tell the story of Finnish nature and the views seen when looking down from an aircraft window.

”The Metsänväki print by Kristina Isola is a strong statement about the Finnish spirit and the forest-inspired energy that makes Finns tick. The print combines the majesty and fairytale-like magic of the Finnish forest. This makes it an ideal greeting from Finland, carried on the blue and white wings of Finnair around the world,” says Minna Kemell-Kutvonen, Creative Director at Marimekko.

Marimekko for Finnair tableware and textiles have been designed to accommodate the special requirements of commercial aviation. The Business Class tableware is made of special light-weight porcelain which helps Finnair reduce aircraft weight, thus contributing to fuel efficiency and a lighter carbon footprint.

Information on the Metsänväki print

The fairytale like Metsänväki (“forest dwellers”) print was created by Maija Isola’s daughter Kristina Isola in 2007. The print is dedicated to dear and faithful friends: to the trees and bushes of the forest, which stay put year after year. Peace and trust are also reflected in the colourings of the design, in shades of green, brown and blue, of which the blue print was a natural choice to celebrate the Marimekko for Finnair partnership.

What are the most memorable moments in travelling? How can the travel experience be made smoother and even more enjoyable? After two groundbreaking crowdsourcing initiatives, Finnair and Finavia’s Helsinki Airport know who to ask. In 2013, Quality Hunters returns – more interactive than ever. 

On 26 March, Finnair, one of the world’s longest-running airlines, and Finavia, the operator of Helsinki Airport, launch Quality Hunters 2013 in order to identify the key moments that can either make or break a journey, and seek out practical ways of improving the travel experience.

This time, they will look to the extremely active and inventive online community that formed around the previous Quality Hunters initiative and whose keen interest in improving the quality of air travel has kept the discussion going ever since.

“After two extremely positive experiences we wanted to make the Quality Hunters concept a substantial part of our product development. By working together with the community, we can make sure that the ideas are viable and that they serve both our customers and our business. Our goal is to be an attractive choice when travelling between Asia and Europe. With our customers’ help we can concentrate on the very matters that make the difference to them,” says Peter Gabrielsson, Vice President of Customer Experience and Product at Finnair.

Together, Finnair and Helsinki Airport offer the fastest and shortest connections between Asia and Europe, and both companies seek to expand their business in the East. For Helsinki Airport, the quality of service and the extra value offered to passengers becomes more significant as transit airports play an increasingly important role in travel decisions. 

“By inviting our passengers to take part in our product development, we hope to come up with practical ways of adding that little bit of extra to make travelling via Helsinki even smoother and more enjoyable, while strengthening our position as the leading long-haul airport in Northern Europe,” says Johanna Metsälä, Customer Experience Manager at Finavia.

New approach to service development

Quality Hunters 2013 is a model for community-driven service development where the most promising ideas provided by the community are selected to be developed further with the professionals at Finnair and Finavia. The community will be invited to share their views of what makes a travel experience great and identify points of improvement along the passenger’s journey.

The companies are calling for ideas that can really be put to use, which is why product development professionals at Finnair and Finavia will engage with the community through the entire project. Working with an airport and an airline presents many considerations and restrictions for potential ideas, as they must adhere to strict security guidelines and in-flight weight limits, for instance. 

Where the previous initiatives mapped the passengers’ notions of quality in air travel, Quality Hunters 2013 takes a more practical approach in making the passengers’ visions a reality. The initiative aims for ideas that are easy to put to use and support the business goals of the two companies as well as improve the passenger experience in a tangible way.

The Quality Hunters Twitter channel, blog and Facebook page will be the main hubs for discussion. Although the majority of work will be done through these channels, active and involved community members will also be handpicked to test and develop Finnair and Helsinki Airport’s services in person. 

Innovative ideas and international acclaim

Quality Hunters 2013 follows two award-winning crowdsourcing initiatives run by the companies. The 2010 Rethink Quality initiative inspired Finnair and Finavia to find new ways of looking at quality, and in 2011, Quality Hunters, season 2 proved the power of a great community in creating innovative ideas to improve air travel. The Helsinki Airport Book Swap, which opened in summer 2012 and the vegetarian meals introduced on long-haul flights later in the autumn are both great examples of successful ideas co-developed by the Quality Hunters community, Finnair and Finavia.

Become a Quality Hunter!

Anyone can join the conversation by following @qualityhunters on Twitter. The blog at qualityhunters.com will discuss the ideas suggested by community members and follow their development process while sharing news about the initiative’s progress. The initiative can also be followed on Facebook at facebook.com/qualityhunters.

Finnair is moving from T5 to T2 at Arlanda on 9 April 2013. Officially the refurbished terminal will be inaugurated on 23 April, with 2,000 square metres of additional space on a brand-new level. For passengers, this will mean a smoother route to their flight, twice as much seating, and new shops and restaurants in an international setting.

Business Class customers and Finnair Plus and oneworld top-tier cardholders can enjoy the brand new 800 m² Menzies Executive Lounge services.

Short distances from check-in to the security checkpoint and on to the gate mean that you can get to your flight quickly. Check-in is open all day but flights are closed 45 minutes before each departure. For Business and Pro travellers, there’s also a priority lane through the security checkpoint. What’s more, the route to the baggage pick-up will be shorter in terminal T2.

Finnair has introduced a new social check-in service, which allows the passengers to link their Facebook profile with the seat map. When doing so, other passengers can see the passenger's Facebook profile and the passenger can see who else has checked in for the same flight and where they are seated.

After completing check-in, the customer can share his or her travel destination and the estimated time of arrival with his or her friends in their social networks.

"Many people like telling their friends on Facebook where they are travelling. We wanted to make this a little bit easier and also add some value in the check-in process for those, who want to see who they are travelling with, and who are open to meeting new people," says Aku Varamäki, Social Media Manager for Finnair.

"We want to make air travel more social and find new ways to utilise social media during customers’ journey in ways that delight our customers," says Jarkko Konttinen, Vice President, Marketing. "We're proud to be front-runners in utilising social media and making air travel more social."

The service only shows the customer's public Facebook profile and is only visible to the passengers on the same flight. Using the social check-in service is voluntary, and customers can choose to travel "incognito", just like before. Also, it is possible to disable the social check-in at any time, thus preventing other passengers from seeing the social network profile in conjunction with the seat map.

In the first phase the service only includes Facebook but more social networks will be added later. The service was developed in partnership with Amadeus IT Group.

Finnair customers will be the first airline passengers in the world to have the opportunity to try the Windows 8-powered HP ElitePad 900 tablets as in-flight entertainment. 

As of 20 March Finnair will begin a two-month trial period of tablets and wireless Internet service on board one of its Airbus A330 wide body aircraft. The trial tests the functionality of wireless network on intercontinental flights, enhances customers’ in-flight comfort and tests how the passengers use the equipment during the flight.

The test will take place in Business Class on scheduled flights and in Comfort Class on charter flights. Passengers willing to participate in the test are offered an HP ElitePad tablet, which includes movies, TV shows, music and games. Additionally, the tablet includes wellness-related programs, such as a relaxation app to cope with time difference. Passengers will be asked to participate in a survey, and the information obtained will be used to develop Finnair’s in-flight entertainment service concept.

Info: Finnair Media Desk, tel. +358 9 818 4020, comms(a)finnair.com

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia celebrate a key milestone today as fellow oneworld® alliance member Finnair announces its intent to join the transatlantic joint business, established by the three airlines in October 2010.

Once Finnair joins the transatlantic joint business later this year, customers in North America and Europe will have increased choice of flights and services as well as more convenient connections to flights across the Atlantic.

As part of the joint business, Finnair will add its (AY*) code to selected American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia flights between North America and Europe (EU, plus Norway and Switzerland). American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia will add their respective (AA*), (BA*) and (IB*) code to Finnair’s daily flights between New York and Helsinki. All together, the joint business will operate up to 102 daily round trips between North America and Europe, serving 42 gateways on either side of the Atlantic. Customers will also have access to a further 163 onward connections in North America and 126 in Europe.

New horizons for customers on both sides of the Atlantic

Benefits for customers of the four airlines include:

Coordinated schedules on joint business routes, providing customers with more flight choices and more convenient times

Members of the four airlines' frequent flyer programs – Iberia Plus, American Airlines AAdvantage®, British Airways Executive Club and Finnair Plus – will be able to earn points or miles on the new codeshare flights

Dedicated support teams for customers transferring at seven of the airlines' hubs: New York JFK, London Heathrow, Madrid, Chicago, Miami, Dallas and Los Angeles.

Online check-in and boarding pass printing with either the airline operating the flight, or the website of the airline used to book travel

“Our participation in this venture will significantly increase the portfolio of available destinations to Finnair’s existing customers, as well as open up Northern Europe to a whole new network of potential travellers,” says Allister Paterson, Finnair’s Senior Vice President, Commercial. “Fare combinability between the four carriers also brings more ticket flexibility to customers, as the fares and conditions are identical between the airlines. A business traveler soon will be able to combine American, British Airways, Iberian and Finnair routes flexibly when flying between Europe and North America.”

“American Airlines is delighted to welcome Finnair to the transatlantic joint business and leverage its extensive network across Northern Europe,” says Kurt Stache, American Airlines’ Vice President, Strategic Alliances. “The existing joint business has already brought many opportunities to our customers in its first two years such as coordination across schedules and enhanced frequent flyer benefits on each carrier. American looks forward to even greater integration across the four airlines that Finnair’s arrival will bring to the expanded joint business.”

“British Airways looks forward to Finnair joining the transatlantic joint business this year,” says Simon Talling-Smith, Chair, Atlantic Joint Business Management Committee, “the addition of the Helsinki hub to our joint business network will bring faster and easier connections for customers on hundreds of city connections between Europe and North America. We are excited to be able to offer more choice and new benefits to all our customers.”

“We are happy to welcome Finnair into the North Atlantic Joint Business,” says José Bolorinos, Iberia’s Senior Vice President, Strategy. “Finnair has been a great partner of Iberia for many years. We started our code share cooperation with them in the year 2000. We are sure their contribution will significantly expand the reach of the oneworld North Atlantic JB in Northern Europe and offer more service options for our customer.”

Finnair renews Business Class menus as part of its 90^th Anniversary celebrations. As of September Business Class passengers have the opportunity to order from the menus created by two famed Finnish chefs, Pekka Terävä and Tomi Björk. 

Terävä, who specializes in Nordic cuisine, has created a menu that includes, for example, reindeer sirloin, boletus purée, oven-baked Lapland potatoes and organic barley. Tomi Björk, an expert in Asian cuisine, has created a menu that is divided into Japanese and Thai food.

The menus are completed with carefully selected wines. The port wine served in Finnair Business Class during long-haul flights came second in Business Traveller magazine’s awards this February.

Info: Finnair Media Desk, p. +358 9 818 4020, comms(a)finnair.com

Finnair will install new full-flat seats in most of its existing long haul aircraft beginning in January 2014. Once the installation program is completed by autumn 2014, all of Finnair’s long haul Airbus fleet will have full-flat seats in Business Class, with the exception of three older aircraft. These three aircraft will be the first to be removed from the fleet with the arrival of A350 XWBs in 2015. The total investment, including replacement investments, is approximately 29 million euros.

“The full-flat experience has been very well received by customers in Business Class,” says Anssi Komulainen, Finnair’s Senior Vice President, Customer Service. “We believe that the key to Finnair’s success in a very competitive market is to differentiate on service, and this substantial investment in the comfort of passengers helps us in this long-term aim. Full-flat seats are the new standard for quality-conscious customers, and for Finnair.”

The Zodiac Seats UK Vantage model seats selected by Finnair are already in use on the airline’s four newest Airbus A330s. The seats are designed to provide a full-flat bed of up to 200 cm (79”), while shoulder room measures 58 cm (23”). The fully adjustable seats also come with an individual reading light, adjustable headrest, mood lights and a range of inflight entertainment options.

The move to full-flat seats is the latest in Finnair’s on-going series of renewals and upgrades in the customer experience. In October 2012, the airline announced a design collaboration with Finnish design house Marimekko, whose textiles and tableware will bring a light and fresh visual dimension to aircraft interiors starting in spring 2013. A revamp of meal choices is also underway in both cabin classes.

Finnair currently operates 15 long haul Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft in its fleet, serving a network of 13 destinations in Asia. A further 11 Airbus A350 XWBs (with an option for 8 more) are due to arrive beginning in H2 2015, which will help the airline double its revenue from Asian destinations by 2020. Finnair will be the first European airline to fly with the state of the art A350.

Finnair has a long and proud tradition for earning prestigious awards for its Business Class wine selections, and the latest award was received for the Portuguese Niepoort Colheita (1998, Douro) wine. It was selected as the best Business Class wine in the fortified and sweet category in the annual Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky awards.

The 2013 Cellars in the Sky awards were presented 4 February at the Dorchester hotel in London by Charles Metcalfe, co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge and food and wine matching guru. The awards have been running since 1985, recognizing the best business and first class wines served by airlines worldwide. Over 75 carriers were contacted in the summer of 2012, with a total of 33 airlines entering.

Finnair’s partner Malaysia Airlines becomes a full member of the oneworld alliance on 1 February, adding one of commercial aviation’s most frequent award winners to the world’s leading quality airline alliance.

The 125 million members of the established oneworld airlines’ frequent flyer programs, including Finnair Plus, can now earn and redeem awards and tier status points and receive all other oneworld benefits on Malaysia Airlines. Additionally, to celebrate the addition of the new recruit, members of Finnair Plus program will receive double the normal mileage awards when flying on Malaysia Airlines between 15 February and 15 April, on tickets bought by 15 April, 2013.

Since last November, Finnair has maintained a bilateral codeshare agreement with Malaysia Airlines on select flights between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore, and on select flights between Finnair’s Helsinki hub and Amsterdam, London, Paris and Frankfurt. The codeshares enable passengers to book itineraries to Malaysia on a single Finnair ticket, and vice versa for Malaysia Airlines customers flying to Finland.

Malaysia Airlines substantially expands the oneworld network in South East Asia, where it strengthens the alliance’s connectivity between many key business cities in Asia and other parts of the world, benefitting customers with an expanded global network and increased competition.

Finnair flights from Helsinki to Barcelona (AY3269/3270) and Madrid (AY3183/3184) will be operated with a locally hired cabin crew as of 1 February 2013. The customer service on these flights will be conducted in English and Spanish.

The Spain based cabin crew has been trained into Finnair safety and service procedures. The cockpit crew on Barcelona and Madrid routes are Finland based Finnair pilots. The catering and service concept on these flights are identical to other Finnair flights.

As of 1 February 2013 the new number of the Finnair switchboard in Finland is +358 600 0 81881. The cost for an answered call will be 1,25 euro + normal call charges. 

Finnair is offering new destinations and frequencies for the summer season from 31 March to 26 October 2013. New scheduled flight destinations are Antalya in Turkey, Tel Aviv in Israel, and Palma de Mallorca in Spain. Frequencies to Malaga, Barcelona and Madrid will also be increased significantly.

Earlier Finnair has already announced two new summer connections to Asia: to Hanoi from 15 June with three frequencies per week and to Xi’an from 14 June, also with three frequencies per week.

Starting 5 June, flights to Palma de Mallorca will be operated twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, and have good connections to domestic, Baltic and St. Petersburg flights. Scheduled flights to Antalya start on 7 June and the route will be operated twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. The city is a popular tourist destination, and direct scheduled flights are attractive to vacation homeowners in the Antalya region. Flights to Tel Aviv in Israel will also start on 7 June. Two weekly flights depart from Helsinki on Mondays and Fridays.

Finnair’s Spanish routes are becoming increasingly attractive among both Spanish and Asian passengers. In summer 2013, Finnair flies daily to Malaga and 10 times a week to Barcelona. Additionally, during the peak season from 7 June to 22 September, Finnair will offer two daily flights to Barcelona. Flights to and from Madrid will be operated daily, and frequencies go up to 10 times a week from 14 June to 30 July.

Other additional frequencies in the summer schedule include four weekly connections to Dubrovnik and Ljubljana as well to Krakow, where frequencies are doubling from the previous year. St. Petersburg will be operated by Flybe Finland twice a day, and the flights have good connections to Finnair's long-haul and domestic destinations. Toronto in Canada will be served with five weekly flights between 23 May and 8 September 2013.

Domestically, morning frequencies to Turku and Tampere are added, which will significantly increase connectivity to long-haul flights as well as to Baltic and Nordic countries. Added frequencies will be operated by Flybe Finland.

Finnair will begin flying to Xi´an in summer 2013, further deepening the airline’s network of Asian destinations. Finnair will begin offering the service to Xi´an from its hub in Helsinki with three frequencies per week starting 14 June until the end of the summer season on 26 October 2013. The first direct connection between Xi´an and Europe is Finnair’s latest step toward its goal of doubling Asian revenue by 2020.

Finnair earlier announced a new summer connection to Hanoi from 15 June, also with three frequencies per week.

“I’m very excited and pleased to announce Xi´an as our fifth destination in China,” says CEO Mika Vehviläinen. “The fast-growing Chinese economy continues to fuel rapid growth in demand for air travel to and from Europe, and to open up new opportunities for Finnair. We have a history of pioneering better connections between Europe and China going back to 1988, when we began flying to Beijing. We look forward to building on that history and offering the quickest and smoothest itineraries between dozens of European destinations and Xi´an.”

Located in central-northwest China, Xi´an is a metropolis of about 8 million people and a growing centre in the development of China’s aerospace and software industries. The city is also an ancient imperial capital and an historic cradle of Chinese civilisation. The world-famous Terracotta Army, the vast collection of burial sculptures found around the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, is located about 40 km to the east of the city centre.

Earlier this year, Finnair became the first airline to directly connect Europe with Chongqing, another fast-growing inland megacity. Elsewhere in China, Finnair also flies to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. A further eight destinations round out Finnair’s Asian network: Bangkok, Delhi, Hanoi, Nagoya, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo.

Finnair will open flights to Hanoi Vietnam in summer 2013, continuing the airline’s strategic focus on traffic between Asia and Europe. Subject to regulatory approvals, Finnair will become the only European airline to offer a direct connection from Europe to the dynamic capital of Vietnam with a population of 6.5 million.

Starting on June 14, Finnair will begin service to Hanoi from its hub in Helsinki with three frequencies per week. From Helsinki, Finnair offers connections to more than 60 European destinations. The Hanoi route will be operated during the summer schedule season, which lasts until Oct 27. Finnair is represented in Vietnam by its partner East Sea Travel & Air Service Group.

Finnair will operate to Hanoi with A330 aircraft. The flight time is 10 hrs 10 min from Helsinki to Hanoi and 10 hrs 55 minutes from Hanoi to Helsinki. Finnair does not add its capacity with this route, but will make small adjustments to summer schedules as we start operating the three weekly flights to Hanoi.

Hanoi is a commercial center in the fast growing Vietnamese economy

As a major centre of scientific study and research in the region, Hanoi is forecasted to have the world’s fastest growing economy between the years 2008-2025 (source:  PricewaterhouseCoopers). The city is also noted for its historic Old Quarter, French colonial architecture, and pilgrimage site Chua Huong, a network of Buddhist temples and shrines carved out of the limestone hills and tropical forests around Huong Mountain. Near Hanoi is Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its thousands of limestone isles.

As of 28 November Finnair introduces five new ticket types that will simplify the purchasing of flight tickets. Finnair’s frequent flyer program, Finnair Plus, has also been renewed to be more rewarding than before.

The new ticket types are BUSINESS, BUSINESS SAVER in Business Class and PRO, VALUE and BASIC in Economy Class. The goal is to improve clarity in ticket pricing and offer fares to all segments of customers in the fast-growing market in air travel.

All Finnair tickets include at least one carry-on baggage, one piece of checked baggage, Finnair Plus points and a route-specific meal or beverage service on flights free of charge. Finnair’s customers can now choose a more flexible ticket and priority airport services on specific airports even in Economy Class. Furthermore, customers can choose different ticket types for return flights.

”These new ticket types enable passengers to book the fare most appropriate for their needs, in a simple and transparent way, without sacrificing the core product offering that all passengers expect from a high-quality, full-service airline like Finnair,” says Anssi Komulainen, SVP Customer Service. “We want to offer clear and understandable options to customers who come from all walks of life and who each have different needs and priorities when they fly.”

The Finnair Plus frequent flyer program is now becoming even more rewarding: the Finnair Plus point accrual will change on Finnair flights from a kilometre-based calculation to a region based one. Finnair will also give approximately 30 percent more points than before. Another change is linked to the new ticket types: instead of booking class, the point accrual depends on the chosen ticket type.

With the new ticket types, it is simple for customers to determine how their chosen ticket type affects the point accrual. It is easier to gain tier status, since tier status levels remain the same. This way, Finnair Plus program rewards customers even more with member benefits.

Find out more about the new ticket types >

Due to high demand, Finnair offers extra flights on Finnish domestic routes during the Christmas season. We will operate 22 additional flights between 21 December 2012 and 2 January 2013, and thus provide an opportunity to fly to Lapland during Christmas season also to those holiday makers, who have not yet bought their tickets.

During Christmas time Finnair will operate nine return flights to Rovaniemi, four to both Ivalo and Kuusamo, two to Kittilä, and one to Oulu, in addition to previously scheduled flights. Two return flights have also been added to Kuopio.

More detailed information on flight departure times and dates can be found on Finnair's website.

From November onwards, Finnair PlusShop products are also available on all Finnair scheduled and leisure flights that last longer than one hour. You can find the Finnair PlusShop products at the new Home Delivery section in the Pre-Order Catalogue available in your seat pocket. The order form can be given to the cabin crew, and your order will be delivered to you by post.

The Finnair PlusShop on board is a new global sales channel providing excellent visibility for selected Finnish and international design products and brands. The Finnair PlusShop Home Delivery is available on all Finnair intercontinental and leisure flights, as well as on longer European flights. The products can be ordered to all European countries, to the United States and to many Asian countries. You can use your points, money, or a combination of money and points to pay for your order. Your order will be charged when the products are ready to be shipped, usually about in three days. Finnair Plus members will also earn one point for every euro they spend.

Instructions on how to order Finnair PlusShop products on board, as well as the order form, can be found at end of the Catalogue. The instructions are available in Finnish, English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages.

The Finnair PlusShop selection does not include alcohol or tobacco products; these can be ordered via the pre-order service for flights as usual.

Finnair and Finnish design house Marimekko are teaming up to enhance the air travel experience with a new design partnership. From spring 2013 all Finnair aircraft will feature a Marimekko for Finnair collection of textiles and tableware, featuring Marimekko’s classic patterns. The Marimekko for Finnair collection is specially designed to add a light and fresh visual and tactile dimension to the onboard experience, while lightening the airline’s carbon footprint as well.

Two of Finnair’s long-haul aircraft will also wear livery based on Marimekko designs. An Airbus A340 featuring Maija Isola’s iconic Unikko floral print from 1964 is already operating between Helsinki and Finnair’s Asian destinations, and it will be followed by another aircraft in Marimekko livery in spring 2013.

“Finnair has a strong design heritage, and this cooperation brings our design thinking to a new level,” says Mika Vehviläinen, Finnair CEO. “Our goal is to become a design airline, and bring our customers unique experiences for all five senses. Cooperation with Marimekko is an important step towards this target. Finnair aircraft will become roving ambassadors of timeless Finnish design and creativity, giving our customers a special experience when they fly with us.”

”We hope that Marimekko’s sympathetic Unikko poppy flowers flying up in the sky as well as our other iconic prints as a part of the in-flight experience bring joy to people around the world,” says Mika Ihamuotila, Marimekko CEO. “Lately, we have wanted to connect Marimekko’s colourful design and fashion with surprising parties and forms of art, such as ballet, modern dance or visual arts. Now it is time to do something unforeseen up in the sky. I believe that the Marimekko and Finnair design collaboration will bring to hectic and often grey air travel joy, peace of mind and beautiful memories.”

During the three-year collaboration, an exclusive selection of Marimekko design products is also available for Finnair customers in in-flight sales and at the Finnair Plus Shop. In addition to adding value to the customer experience, both companies look forward to the collaboration helping build more awareness of their brands. Both companies have a long established presence in Japan but are growing rapidly in other Asian markets, China in particular.

“Finnair is a natural partner for Marimekko, as in my opinion it has been the first airline in the world to lift up design and place it strongly at the center of its service,” continues Ihamuotila. “With our collaboration we want to show how design can help improve the well-being of people in different moments of life. Furthermore, our design collaboration with Finnair supports our growth strategy, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, which is one of Marimekko’s key market areas.”

“Both of these brands are about bringing positivity, high quality and peace of mind to customers,” adds Vehviläinen. “We believe this collaboration will help generate new experiences and lasting, positive memories for a whole new generation of Finnair passengers in Asia.”

New engines offer Finnair a significant advantage in fuel efficiency over the competition, saving about 300 tons of fuel per year per aircraft.

Finnair has selected IAE International Aero Engines AG to supply engines for its five new Airbus A321 extended range aircraft, entering the Finnair fleet from September 2013. The IAE V2533-A5 engines offer Finnair a significant advantage in fuel efficiency over the competition, saving about 300 tons of fuel per year per aircraft, according to aircraft supplier Airbus test data. The engines also operate well within the noise limitations set by ICAO and the EU.

In June 2010 Finnair announced an order for five Airbus aircraft to replace the four Boeing 757s currently in the fleet. The new A321s will be quieter and more comfortable for passengers, as well as about 5 per cent more fuel-efficient. The move also enables more flexibility and interoperability between European scheduled and leisure flights, driving up aircraft utilisation and further reducing per-passenger emissions.

“The IAE engines on these aircraft allow us to enhance the customer experience while also saving on fuel costs and making a substantial dent in our carbon profile,” says COO Ville Iho. “They are essential in remaining competitive in the tough market in European narrow-body traffic, both scheduled and leisure.”

“A modern fleet is an investment in Finnair’s future,” adds Kati Ihamäki, VP Sustainable Development. “Especially in the emissions trading era, sourcing decisions like this have an appreciable effect on our bottom line, not to mention savvy and well-informed customers looking for greener choices when flying.”

"IAE is very pleased to have been selected by Finnair,” says IAE President Jon Beatty. “The V2500 SelectOne™ upgrade was launched with customers such as Finnair in mind. The upgrade further improved the V2500’s fuel burn advantage, resulting in even lower carbon dioxide emissions and enabling customers to potentially save a significant amount on purchases of carbon credits. It also resulted in the quietest engine in this sector with margins below Chapter 4 standards, which can lead to lower landing fees for noise sensitive airports. We look forward to working closely with Finnair to help them meet their goals.”

During September and October Finnair will lease extra aircraft capacity from Riga-based SmartLynx Airlines and the Madrid-based company Privilege Style due to scheduled maintenance breaks and increased demand.
 
These aircraft are used on flights to: Malaga, Barcelona, Budapest, Madrid, Vienna, Aqaba, Heraklion, Kos, Rhodos, Marsa Alam, Tenerife.
 
From the customer’s point of view it’s good to know that:

• Flight number remains the same
• Checked baggage included in the price
• Check-in according to Finnair’s normal service concept
• Finnair Plus points accrued according to the normal rules
• Onboard service according to Finnair’s normal concept
• Aircraft branding: SmartLynx or Privilege Style
• Cabin personnel: SmartLynx or Privilege Style and a Finnair purser

Baggage can now be automatically transferred to a connecting flight within Sweden also in Arlanda airport (ARN) in Stockholm. Until now, passengers have had to pick up their baggage from the baggage claim area and bring it to domestic check-in when transferring at Arlanda airport. At Gothenburg (GOT) and Bromma (BMA) airports, the automatic transfer baggage procedure has already been in force for a while.

Due to this improvement, checking bags to your final destination is now possible in all three Swedish airports Finnair flies to, and is available to all those Swedish destinations that hold an ICAP status. There are only three smaller airports that do not yet have an ICAP status: Hagfors (HFS), Torsby (TYF) and Oskarshamn (OSK). When travelling to these destinations, passengers need to follow the old procedure and bring their baggage to domestic check-in for their connecting flight at Arlanda airport.

Finnair and airberlin are expanding their codeshare cooperation in Scandinavia and the Middle East. From 28 October onwards, Finnair’s flight numbers will be added to all airberlin flights operating from Oslo, Gothenburg, Stockholm and Copenhagen to Berlin, and from Copenhagen to Düsseldorf. Finnair’s flight numbers will also be added to daily airberlin flights from Düsseldorf and Berlin to Abu Dhabi, which means that Finnair customers can book airberlin flights from Helsinki to Abu Dhabi through Finnair’s booking system. airberlin’s flight numbers have also been added to Finnair flights from Helsinki to Tallinn, Turku, Tampere and Oulu.

“We are very pleased with our increasing cooperation with airberlin, who is also our newest oneworld partner,” says Finnair’s oneworld Relations Director Paavo Virkkunen. “Our increased codeshare cooperation will expand our route network in the Nordic countries and it will also increase the number of passengers passing through Helsinki Airport.”

Finnair and airberlin have cooperated on codeshare flights between Finland and Germany as well as on flights continuing to Italy and Austria already from the year 2010. Also, airberlin joined the oneworld alliance, which Finnair also belongs to, on 20 March this year.

 

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Finnair has been named the best airline in Northern Europe at the 2012 Skytrax World Airline Awards. The awards, which this year were held at Farnborough International Airshow, are based on an independent survey of travellers from over 160 countries. The World Airline Awards are widely recognised as the most prestigious in the industry, and this is the third time that Finnair has come out on top in this category.

“Finnair is organised first and foremost around the needs of our customers, and our goal is to give peace of mind to travellers at every stage of their journey,” says Arja Suominen, Finnair’s Senior Vice President, Communications. “We are honoured to receive such an award, which shows that our personnel’s dedication and customer-focused approach is bearing real fruit.”

“But a hat-trick isn’t enough,” Suominen adds. “The competition will be just as fierce next year, so this award also motivates us to find new ways to delight our customers and further improve our air travel experience.”

"For Finnair, this award is a fantastic result,” says Edward Plaisted, Chairman of Skytrax, “especially since it’s the third year in a row that they’ve won it. Achieving such high levels of customer satisfaction is a reflection of the hard work put in by all Finnair’s staff."

Earlier this year Skytrax also renewed Finnair’s four-star rating, making it the highest rated airline in the Nordic countries.

The World Airline Awards are regarded as the primary benchmark for passenger satisfaction in the airline industry. The awards analyse how satisfied passengers are with their overall flying experience, both at the airport and on board the aircraft. A wide variety of factors are taken into account, including check-in, boarding, seat comfort, cabin cleanliness, food, drink, in-flight entertainment and staff service quality.

This year, the Skytrax survey collected passenger opinion on over 200 airlines, encompassing everything from large international carriers to small domestic operators. It was carried out over a ten-month period and measured the quality of more than 38 front-line products and services. An astounding 18.8 million interviews were conducted with travellers of over 100 nationalities.

On Thursday 5 July, Finnair and Finavia organised a unique sporting event at Helsinki Airport to raise Finnair Plus points for charity. The contest, which saw competitors running as far as possible in a Cooper test, took place on runway 3 in the warm evening sunshine.

A group of 35 eager runners participated, which included Finnair pilots, Finavia staff and Signmark, a Finnish rap artist who performs in sign language. In the end, Finnair pilot Antti Röyskö came out on top, running 3,250 metres in 12 minutes. Finnair pledged one Finnair Plus point to charity for every metre run during the contest, which means a grand total of 94,772 points will be donated.

Finnair’s Facebook fans will now get to decide which of the following charities will receive the points: the Baltic Sea Action Group, the Association of Friends of the University Children's Hospitals, UNICEF, the Finnish Red Cross, the Finnish Cancer Foundation or the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. Whichever charity is chosen, the points are sure to be put to good use – for example, the Association of Friends of the University Children’s Hospitals will use them to help parents visit their children in hospital, and the Finnish Cancer Foundation will use them to cover the travel costs of cancer researchers.

Jarkko Konttinen, Vice President of Finnair Global Marketing Communications, explains how this unique fundraising event came about:

This event marked the recent completion of renovation work on runway 3 at Helsinki Airport. The three-kilometre-long strip of tarmac has been resurfaced and the lights have been renewed. Runway 3 has been out of action so far this summer season, but will be reopened for traffic on Monday 9 July at noon.