On 20 March 1924, a Junkers F13 D-335 seaplane transported 162 kg of mail from Katajanokka, Helsinki, to Tallinn. The company charter was signed on 1 November 1923.
Everything started with one seaplane; now, nine decades later, Finnair is operating a total of 43 aeroplanes from Helsinki Airport to more than 60 global destinations and has almost 6,000 employees.
Last year, Finnair transported 9.3 million passengers, which is 60% of all passengers passing through Helsinki Airport. Air traffic is pivotal to Finnish business and national economy, and directly and indirectly employs more than 120,000 people in Finland.
Finnair is the world's sixth oldest airline still in operation, and will celebrate its 90-year journey by business as usual. Currently, Finnair has six daily flights between Helsinki and Tallinn, operated by Flybe.
"From a modest start, our operation has expanded substantially and we have also increased the amount of co-operation with partners, such as Flybe. Finnair has become a network company that is familiar to all Finns and that engages in world-class operations", says Finnair's operations director Ville Iho.
According to Flightstats, Finnair was the world's most punctual airline for four months and, regarding the full year, Finnair was the second most punctual airline in the world.
Recent milestones of Finnair include new routes to Xian and Hanoi, design co-operation with Marimekko and the menu renewal of long-distance flights' business class, relocation to new, environmentally sound premises, and being the first airline in the world to receive new A321 Sharklet aeroplanes.
In April, Finnair will join a partnership project related to flights between Europe and Japan. By year-end, the majority of long-distance flights' business class will have seats that recline into the sleeping position. In 2015, Finnair will be the first European airline to receive next-generation Airbus A350 XWB aeroplanes.
First flight celebration in Katajanokka on 20 March 2014
The Finnish Air Line Pilots' Association and the Finnish Aviation Museum will together arrange a first flight celebration at Matruusipuisto Park in Katajanokka, Helsinki, at 12 noon on 20 March. Everyone interested in aviation is welcome to attend. If weather conditions allow, a seaplane will visit Katajanokka.
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Helsinki Airport's history World's first Sharklet at Helsinki Airport
