Tomorrow Finnair celebrates 90 years of flying

Finnair (Helsinki) tomorrow marks exactly 90 years since Finnair’s first commercial flight. On March 20, 1924, Finnair’s first flight transported 357 pounds of mail from Katajanokka in Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia aboard a Junkers F13 D-335 seaplane. Finnair, originally called Aero Oy, was founded on November 1 of the previous year.

Nine decades later, Finnair currently operates 43 aircraft traveling to more than 60 destinations around the world and employs nearly six thousand people. Last year, the company transported 9.3 million passengers, which represents 60 percent 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.

Today, Finnair, the world’s sixth-oldest airline still in operation, has six daily flights on weekdays between Helsinki and Tallinn operated by Flybe.

According to Flightstats, Finnair was the world’s most punctual airline in four different months last year, and in 2013 it operated the world’s second most punctual airline network.

Finnair’s recent milestones include the launch of new routes to Xi’an and Hanoi, design cooperation with Marimekko, renewed inflight dining options in Business Class, new and environmentally friendly offices, and becoming the first airline in the world to take delivery of new A321 Sharklet aircraft (see photo above).

Later this year Finnair is set to enter a joint business on EU-Japan traffic with fellow oneworld partners British Airways and Japan Airlines. Furthermore, Finnair will continue the retrofit of its widebody fleet with seats in Business Class that convert to full-flat beds. In 2015 Finnair will become the first European airline to operate the next-generation Airbus A350 XWB aircraft.

The Finnish Airline Pilots’ Association and the Finnish Aviation Museum will organize a joint celebration to mark the 90th anniversary of Finnair’s maiden flight at 12:00 pm 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.

Follow the events celebrating the 90th anniversary of Finnair’s maiden flight on Twitter under the hashtag #Finnair90.

Congratulations Finnair!

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Newly-delivered Airbus A321-231 OH-LZH (msn 5803) with Sharklets prepares to land at Tenerife Sur.