Finnair hosted its first international media day in seven years, inviting journalists from several countries to the company's home base at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Over two intensive days, participants gained insight into the airline's strategy, technical operations and extensive catering production.
The day began with presentations about Finnair's future plans and market strategy. In true Finnish spirit, the evening ended with a sauna and a dip in the icy sea – an experience that became a memorable one for many of the international guests.
Tour of Hangar 7
The following morning, an exclusive study visit was on the agenda. The first stop was Hangar 7, one of Finnair's two large maintenance halls on the airport grounds. When the building was inaugurated in 1990, it was the largest in Finland in terms of volume, and it still has the country's largest sliding doors.
Finnair carries out all technical maintenance in-house here. The facility can accommodate up to four wide-body and eight narrow-body aircraft at a time. The hangar is also used as a parking area for the company's ground vehicles.
Close-up study of the Airbus A350
The hangar housed the third Airbus A350-900 delivered to the company. Finnair was one of the first European airlines to take the A350 into service in 2015, and the model now forms the backbone of its long-haul fleet.
The aircraft had recently arrived from Tokyo Haneda and was undergoing routine checks before its next departure. The media was allowed to board.
The upgraded cabin product was presented on board. In recent years, the entire A350 fleet has received a new Premium Economy class as well as the acclaimed AirLounge seat in Business Class. The seat, which was launched in 2022, has sparked debate in the industry with its innovative design without a traditional reclining mechanism. According to Finnair, the design contributes to both increased comfort and reduced weight, which provides fuel savings – especially important at a time when rerouting around Russian airspace is extending travel times to Asia.
Introduced a few years ago, Premium Economy has become a popular option among travelers. The trend towards premium products is clearly visible globally, with airlines investing in higher comfort to increase revenue per passenger.
The visit concluded with a closer look at one of the aircraft's Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, which had been opened for inspection.
7,500 meals a day
The program continued at Finnair's catering facility, located next to the head office, where over 7,500 in-flight meals are produced daily, both for Finnair's own flights and for other airlines serving Helsinki, including Japan Airlines and Juneyao.
About eight percent of production consists of specialty meals. The operation is highly digitalized and every production step is monitored in real time. A food sample is saved from each production run to ensure quality and traceability.
One detail that brought some smiles to the participants was that china and glassware regularly go missing from aircraft. Finnair has collaborated for decades with Finnish design brand Iittala, whose tableware is used on board – and sometimes apparently taken home with passengers.
The company also serves over a million liters of blueberry juice each year, a drink that has become something of a signature for the airline and continues to be offered free of charge in all travel classes.
More destinations in focus
After the tour, the delegation returned to the airport for onward travel to destinations in Europe and Asia. According to Finnair, the focus on increased openness and international dialogue is part of the company's long-term strategy to strengthen its position as a bridge between Europe and Asia – despite the challenges posed by the changing airspace.
With Media Day, Finnair marks a clear ambition: to showcase both innovation, efficiency and Finnish identity to a global audience.
