Cleared for Takeoff – Finnair Trainee Program through the eyes of three of our trainees

Landing the dream job

For all three, applying for the trainee program was an easy choice – each for their own reasons. For Andrew, growing up near an airport made airplanes a familiar part of life from an early age. “Year by year, the constant exposure to airplanes created a fascination with aviation and everything that happens behind the scenes to make it all possible. When I saw the opportunity to join Finnair’s trainee program, it was the perfect chance to combine that interest with my background in cloud software development. It felt like the perfect next step for me,” he explains. 

Noora felt that Finnair aligned well with her interests, career aspirations, and study background. “Experiencing the world has been one of my growing passions and contributing to a company that supports that passion felt meaningful. When I got the call that I’d been selected, it was both exciting and relieving – my hard work had paid off, and I knew I was about to experience a future-changing summer,” she says. 

For Kaisla, Finnair’s unique position in the aviation industry and its international environment made an intriguing combination. As a strategic management student interested in strategy and business development, the trainee position in the Network Strategy and Development team immediately caught her attention. “Everyone in Finland knows Finnair but being able to see what’s happening behind the scenes and getting to contribute made applying especially interesting. I had the impression that Finnair provides good learning opportunities and hands-on experience for their trainees – and that turned out to be true,” she reminisces.

Feeling at home from day one 

From the start, the atmosphere at Finnair felt warm and welcoming for all three. 

“Our team is quite small, young, and agile, so it was a really good fit for me from the beginning,” Kaisla says. She’s enjoyed the hands-on collaboration – brainstorming, problem-solving, and learning from each other’s perspectives. “It’s been amazing to see how my team members challenge each other, yet value and learn from one another – that level of collaboration usually leads to great outcomes,” she says. 

Alongside hard work, the group also shares laughter, daily banter, and lunches together, adding to the friendly atmosphere. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how kind and approachable everyone is, even leaders and managers. It creates a relaxed, supportive, and less hierarchical environment,” Kaisla continues.

Andrew’s first impression was also how supportive everyone was. Even though aviation and the technologies behind it are complex, his team made everything feel approachable and understandable. “My team introduced me to codebase, development practices, and cloud environment, helping me get up to speed quickly. What stood out most was that despite being a trainee, I was treated like a full team member from the start. My voice was heard, and my opinions were valued – I was taken seriously,” he says. 

Working in Technical Operations, Noora has been able to witness first-hand the deep expertise and passion of her colleagues. Even in an industry where change is the only constant, she’s noticed how Finnair employees embrace the challenge and work together to find the best possible outcomes. “From the very beginning, my meetings with colleagues have been truly heartfelt. Everyone was willing to help whenever I needed support or had questions. Especially as a trainee just starting my career, learning from such professionals and hearing their stories has been inspiring.”

Learning to fly through meaningful projects

The trainees’ summer has been filled with hands-on projects, learning opportunities, and meaningful contributions to Finnair’s operations. 

During his summer as a trainee in Digital Development, Andrew has been able to apply his previous experience in cloud software development while learning how those skills fit into Finnair’s context. He’s been working on back-end development for Finnair’s mobile app, improving reliability, and introducing new features. “The most memorable project was contributing to a feature that passengers actually interact with through the app,” he says. 

“Seeing how my work moved from the code into something that truly improves the customer experience and generates revenue was both motivating and rewarding. Projects like this have helped me think more clearly about my career path and future aspirations,” he continues. 

As Network Strategy and Development Trainee, Kaisla has worked, for instance, on market and competitor analyses, fleet-related projects, business cases for new destinations, and developing a new market insight tool in Power BI to support daily work. “It’s been exciting to work on such diverse and forward-looking projects, which have strongly supported my professional growth. I’ve finally had the chance to work on strategic projects and analytics, and my skills in Excel, Power BI, and my understanding of the aviation business have grown more than I could have imagined beforehand,” she reflects.

As a Supply Chain trainee in Technical Operations, Noora’s summer has been full of variety. She’s worked on development projects for the supply chain team, collaborated with other units, and continued building her skills while learning something new every day. 

“Coming from a non-technical study background, I’ve found the chance to absorb new knowledge daily both challenging and motivating. My previous experience in supply chains has helped me connect my studies and work seamlessly. Especially school projects that included real-life case scenarios have been beneficial here,” she explains.

Getting to know Finnair with fellow trainees, from unit visits to expert meetings 

Alongside working in their own teams, the trainees take part in visits across different Finnair units to gain a comprehensive view of the company as a whole. They also get to meet professionals from various departments during Meet the Expert sessions, covering areas all the way from Communications to Cyber Security. 

“My favourite visits throughout the summer were to the Operations Control Centre, Finnair Cargo, and Finnair lounges at the airport – they really deepened my understanding of Finnair’s operations,” Kaisla says. 

“During the Meet the Experts sessions, I realised just how many professional opportunities Finnair offers – from Cargo to Network Strategy, there’s truly no limit to learning and developing yourself within the company,” Noora adds. 

The visits aren’t just about listening to professionals – trainees are encouraged to ask questions and sometimes, try something hands-on. “The visit to the Finnair Flight Academy was fantastic! We got to try out the Airbus A350 simulator, which was an incredible experience. It gave me a whole new appreciation for all the skill and training that go into operating such a complex aircraft,” Andrew reflects. 

Beyond the visits, some of the most meaningful moments for the trainees have come from the sense of community within the program. “The shared lunches, dinners, and unit visits with other trainees have been highlights of the summer. Fellow trainees have been a great source of peer support when entering a new company – as we’re spread throughout the organisation, it’s been interesting to hear about experiences from different units and understand the kind of work everyone is doing,” Kaisla says.

Andrew agrees wholeheartedly. Whether learning about each other’s teams or spending time together after work, the group quickly formed a supportive network. “It was nice to meet people my age who were going through a similar journey – we could share opinions about studies, future career plans, and even hobbies outside of work,” he adds.

Are you ready to step onboard?

The Finnair Trainee Program gives you the chance not just to observe, but to truly experience what it’s like to work in such a unique industry. “It’s been incredibly interesting to see how much effort it takes to run the entire operation of an airline smoothly. As a passenger, your focus is naturally on the journey itself – but working here made me realise how much coordination, teamwork, and planning go into every single flight. Beyond the pilots and cabin crew, countless people and systems work together seamlessly – everyone plays a part in keeping the operation running,” Andrew reflects.

He encourages applicants to approach the program with curiosity and enthusiasm. “Be honest about your skills and experiences and be confident in what you can contribute. Applicants, who are eager to learn and bravely bring their own perspective to the team are greatly appreciated.”

For future applicants, Noora emphasises authenticity. “Each trainee is different, and we all come from diverse backgrounds with unique personalities and interests. There’s no single ‘type’ of person that fits the program. Work hard for your dream job but remember that luck often plays a role in the routes of our professional futures as well. What really matters is your motivation to learn. In my opinion, what unites employees at Finnair is the passion for this complex field – and once you get inside, you most likely won’t look back.”

If you’re ready to take on challenges, and see first-hand what it takes to make an airline operate seamlessly every day, the application for next year’s trainee program will open soon – stay tuned to our social media channels and career page to make sure you don’t miss your chance to get on board.