Carried away by aviation – from Finnair trainee to industry professional

Aino joined the Finance Development team through Finnair's Takeoff trainee program, went on to complete her master’s thesis for Finnair, and now works as a Business Analyst in Finnair’s CEO Office. Paula joined Finnair Kitchen’s quality team as a trainee in 2024 and is now a Quality Specialist, a role that combines daily quality control with a range of change projects. Mari, meanwhile, began as a Communications Trainee in 2018, spent some time working in airport communications and then returned to Finnair to focus on international media relations. Today, she is the Director of Media Relations and leads Finnair’s external communications team.

What made you apply for a traineeship at Finnair?

Aino: Finnair had always been one of the companies I dreamed of working for, so I kept a close eye on its trainee vacancies. I had heard good things about the Takeoff trainee program, and when I saw that applications were about to open, I knew I wanted to apply.

Paula: In 2024, I was nearing the end of my studies and thinking about the kind of work I wanted to do in the future. I was particularly interested in food safety and working in an international environment. Then I happened to see that Finnair was recruiting for a Food Safety Trainee position that combined the two in an interesting way, so I decided to apply.

Mari: I originally applied for a marketing traineeship at Finnair, even though my previous experience was in communications and I knew that was where I wanted to continue my career. There simply were no communications traineeships available at the time.

I was not selected for the marketing traineeship, but fortunately Finnair kept my application on file. When a position later became available in communications, they contacted me. So, chance also played a part in bringing me to Finnair.

What was your perception of the aviation industry before your traineeship, and how did your impressions change?

Aino: Beforehand, I did not have a very clear idea of what working in aviation was really like. During my traineeship, I learnt a great deal from the visits to different units included in the program. I came to understand just how important collaboration between teams, the flow of information and the ability to respond quickly to changing situations are in aviation. The industry became much more tangible to me, and my appreciation for operational work grew.

Paula: I knew practically nothing about aviation and had never really imagined working in the industry, although travel and international environments had always interested me. Aviation has proved fascinating because air travel involves many unique considerations from a food safety perspective. Both national legislation and aviation regulations must be taken into account when meals are planned and handled. An aircraft is also a highly unusual environment in which to serve food, bringing challenges of its own.

Mari: If I had to name one thing that surprised me about aviation and continues to fascinate me, it would be the emotions. From the outside, the industry can seem quite technical, even clinical, but it involves an astonishing amount of emotion and humanity. Travel comes with high expectations and moments that matter deeply to people. Those powerful emotions can be wonderful at times and difficult at others, but above all, they make the work feel very real and meaningful.

I see that same humanity in the workplace. It is inspiring to see how passionate people are about aviation and their work. I am also still fascinated by how Finnair can be such an international company while feeling, from the inside, like a surprisingly small and close-knit community.

When did you begin to see Finnair as a place where you could build your career?

Aino: As I got to know people at Finnair, I quickly noticed how many had built long careers with the company. A common thread ran through their stories: Finnair supports employees’ individual interests and actively encourages them to explore opportunities within the company. It gave me the sense that there are many different ways to build a career here.

Aviation is also such a complex industry that it takes time to truly understand it. Even after just over a year, I feel I have only scratched the surface. Far from diminishing my interest, this has shown me that there will always be something new to learn.

Paula: I appreciated being given responsibility and meaningful work right from the start. Over the past two years, my tasks have ranged from onboarding new employees and calculating the nutritional content of crew meals to developing cold chains for in-flight meals.  

Whenever I have taken on a new challenge, I have received plenty of support from both my own team and colleagues across Finnair. I have wonderful colleagues in both the office and operational teams, so it is always nice to come to work.

Mari: I am not sure I ever consciously decided to build a long career specifically at Finnair. It happened more organically: each time I learnt something new, another interesting opportunity emerged. Before joining Finnair, for example, I had never really considered media relations as a potential career path. My previous communications roles had focused more on areas such as developing communications channels. During my traineeship, I had the chance to try something completely different and discovered how much I enjoyed media work.

The industry itself has certainly not stood still either. The world changes, and Finnair and my own work have changed with it, sometimes quite radically. Perhaps that is exactly what has kept the work so interesting.

What advice would you give someone considering a career in aviation or a traineeship at Finnair?

Aino: Stay open and curious, even if you are not yet sure what working in aviation involves. I did not have a clear picture of the industry beforehand, and that turned out to be a good starting point: it allowed me to learn and approach new things with an open mind. You do not need to be an aviation enthusiast or know the industry inside out to apply. Genuine interest and a willingness to learn matter far more.

It is also worth remembering that getting to know the industry takes time. Rather than being daunted by its complexity, see it as an opportunity to keep learning. You can build your expertise along the way. The important thing is to remain open-minded.

Paula: People working in aviation come from all kinds of educational and professional backgrounds. I certainly never imagined that studying food science at university would lead me here. There are many possibilities for those who are curious about the industry. Finnair’s trainee program is a good opportunity to get to know the company and gain a broad understanding of aviation from the very beginning. I learnt a great deal from visiting different parts of the company and meeting experts from across Finnair.

Mari: Perhaps I would advise against planning yourself or your career too rigidly. I discovered my interest in media relations almost by chance during my traineeship, although my career has followed that path quite consistently ever since. I have seen a remarkable variety of career paths in aviation around me. In a changing industry, it is also important to be able to adapt your thinking and the way you work as circumstances change. You do not need to foresee everything, nor is it possible.

And of course, it does not hurt if, after years of office work, you discover your inner avgeek.

Applications for the Takeoff program usually open in October–November, and the paid traineeship lasts four to six months.

Learn more about the Takeoff – Finnair Trainee Program and explore our open positions.