TOMORROW (Thursday) marks exactly 90 years since Finnair’s first commercial flight.
On March 20, 1924, a Junkers F13 D-335 seaplane transported 162 kilogrammes of mail from Katajanokka in Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia.
The founding documents of the company, then known as Aero Oy, had been signed on November 1 the previous year.
Nine decades later, Finnair operates 43 aircraft to more than 60 destinations around the world, employing nearly six thousand people.
Last year, the company transported 9.3 million passengers, which represents 60 per cent of all passengers that passed through Helsinki Airport. Air traffic plays a central role in Finnish business and the national economy, directly and indirectly employing over 120,000 people in Finland.
The world’s sixth-oldest airline still in operation celebrates the 90th anniversary of its maiden flight at work. Today, Finnair has six daily flights on weekdays between Helsinki and Tallinn operated by Flybe.
“Our operations have expanded substantially since our modest beginnings. Over time, we have also increased cooperation with partners such as Flybe. Finnair has become a network airline known to all Finns, with operations recognised as world-class,” says Finnair’s chief operating officer Ville Iho.
Reportedly, Finnair was the world’s most punctual airline in four different months last year, and overall in 2013 it operated the world’s second most punctual airline network.
Recent milestones include the launch of new routes to Xi’an and Hanoi, engaging in design cooperation with Marimekko, introducing renewed in-flight dining options in business class, moving to new and environmentally-friendly offices, and becoming the first airline in the world to take delivery of new A321 sharklet aircraft.
The Finnish Airline Pilots’ Association and the Finnish Aviation Museum will organise a joint celebration to mark the 90th anniversary of Finnair’s maiden flight at 12:00 noon on March 20 at Matruusinpuisto park in Helsinki’s Katajanokka district. The event is open to all aviation enthusiasts. Weather permitting; the event will also feature a visit by a seaplane.
