Finnair

Behind every title is a taste for excellence. Our #lifeatfinnair series highlights the experts shaping our journey. Meet Lisette Jaakola, Purchasing Manager at Finnair Kitchen. Let's hear from you, Lisette! ✈️: Who are you and what do you do at Finnair? "My name is Lisette Jaakola, and I am working as a Purchasing Manager at Finnair Kitchen." ✈️: How long have you worked here and what made you apply? "As of today, my journey with Finnair has lasted 1 year and 3 months. The reason I ended up working at Finnair is because my life took an unexpected yet wonderful turn on a warm summer evening when I was visiting Helsinki from my hometown, Turku. I met my partner, and as time went on, the constant commuting between the two cities became a bit tiring. So, I decided to explore exciting job opportunities closer to Helsinki embracing this new chapter of my life. You could say I’ve traded my "Turku roots" for a "Helsinki state of mind" — However, I’m still figuring out how to get around without relying on Google Maps." ✈️: What do you like the most about working at Finnair? "What I like the most about working at Finnair is the strong sense of community and teamwork. I also really appreciate Finnair's commitment to sustainability. Plus, it’s exciting to be part of a company that plays such a pivotal role in connecting people across the globe!" ✈️: What’s your favourite Finnair destination and why? "I love New York City due to its endless energy and diversity. There’s always something happening, whether it's a vibrant street performance in Times Square or discovering a charming café in the heart of the city. The mix of cultures, food, and art makes the city unique, with something fresh to discover every day." ✈️: Can you tell us something most people don’t know about you? "I’ve recently started a new hobby — freestyle swimming. I have to admit, I’m quite proud of myself, especially since for most of my life, I was the person who only swam once a year, during midsummer, and even then, I’d hold my nose when jumping into the water!" ✈️: What tip would you give to someone considering a career in aviation? "My tip would be to stay open-minded and adaptable. Aviation is a dynamic industry with constant change, whether it’s new regulations, market trends or sudden challenges like weather disruptions. Be prepared to continuously learn and grow. Also, I would recommend developing strong communication and problem-solving skills, as working in aviation often involves collaborating with a diverse team and handling unexpected challenges."

When we think about the climate impacts of flying, we often think of the warming effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. However, carbon dioxide alone does not fully describe the impact of flying on the climate; we should also pay attention to other emissions. We go through five facts that everyone should know about contrails and other so-called non-CO2 emissions: https://lnkd.in/dyt9ctaF

Layover at Helsinki Airport? Whether you’re staying, exploring or just passing through, we’ve got all the answers to make your transfer stress-free. Oh, and did we mention it was just voted the best airport in Europe in its size category? 🥰 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dPDMs5PW

Congratulations, Finavia! We're very proud of our home hub, Helsinki Airport. 💙

Since the early 1900s, International Women’s Day has been a powerful reminder of women’s achievements and the ongoing fight for equality. At Finnair, we’re proud to have around 3,100 women contributing their unique talents and experiences. Today, in celebration of International Women's Day, we’re sharing the stories of five inspiring Finnair women, along with their best lessons and advice for young women dreaming of a career in aviation: https://lnkd.in/dtxNXMvU

To celebrate International Women's Day this week, we’re sharing inspiring career stories all week. Today, meet Christine Rovelli, our Chief Revenue Officer, and learn about her journey with us. As the Chief Revenue Officer, Christine leads teams responsible for Finnair’s fleet management, network, pricing, partnerships and alliances, and sustainability. When Christine joined Finnair nearly 13 years ago, she worked in a strategy role in the Resource Management team. Over the years, she has held various positions, from funding and capital markets transactions to strategy and treasury. In 2020, she became responsible for fleet management. Last autumn, Christine became the Chief Revenue Officer – coming full circle back to the division where she started with Finnair. She has also been part of the Finnair Executive Board since 2022, focusing on Strategy and Fleet Management.   Before her career at Finnair, Christine was an investment banker in London covering the transportation industry. She enjoyed the work, but once the deals closed, it was always just on to the next one – she wasn’t part of what happened next. Finnair gave her the opportunity to have a real impact on a business over a long period, which is something she’s really valued.   In her current role, Christine says that she’s proud of the team she leads. She has the privilege to work with talented, creative and dedicated people across Finnair. “I personally have not accomplished much on my own here – it has always been working with a team that we have done those things of which I am most proud,” including, for example, getting Finnair through the pandemic, pivoting the strategy when the Russian airspace closed, and carving out a credible position in the industry regarding sustainability and energy transition topics.   Christine would remind her 15-year-old self to trust herself and reassure her that things will turn out fine. She says that during her lifetime, women’s career opportunities have drastically improved, and she urges women to continue to work towards expanding the opportunities for the generations to come. For those dreaming of a career within the airline industry, she says: “Know that you can make your mark pretty much anywhere; from cabin crew to finance, from engineering to strategy, from operations to marketing and more. If you like aviation, there is a place for you!”

This week, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day by sharing inspiring career journeys throughout the week. Today, meet Eeva Mattila, Engineer at Finnair Technical Services. Eeva was on holiday with her family in Madeira during her senior year and watched the planes take off by the sea. Interested in technology, Eeva immediately thought that it would be interesting to work with aircraft in the future. She was accepted to study Aeronautical Engineering at Aalto University, and while still a student, she got a glimpse behind the scenes of an airport through an internship at Finnair.   Eeva has worked for seven years as an Engineer at Finnair in the Cabin and Payload Engineering team. Her work consists of maintaining, developing and renewing cabins. The renewal work covers both very small renovations, such as installing a new soap bottle in the lavatory, and massive renovation projects covering the entire cabin.   The best part of the job is concretely seeing your own work in the cabin and positively influencing customers' travel experience. During her career at Finnair, Eeva has been involved in three major renewal projects: the ATR cabin upgrades in 2019, the A330 and A350 cabin revamp completed last summer, and now the ongoing Embraer cabin renewal, where she works as a project manager. Her favourite moment is when she finally gets to see the renewed cabin for the first time with all the different elements and details she spent months working on.   Eeva says that she was really shy when she was younger, which greatly defined her life. Thus, she’d like to encourage the 15-year-old Eeva to be braver and do things, even when they seem difficult and scary. Eeva reminds that there are many different jobs available in the field. “Here at Technical Services, there are mechanics, of course, but also us engineers, IT experts, logistics professionals and commercial people – people from different backgrounds with different strengths. There is certainly a spot for everyone, you just have to apply!”

The number of passengers and passenger load factor improved again despite flight cancellations related to industrial action. In February, Finnair carried 846,000 passengers, which was 4.4% more than in February 2024. Passenger numbers saw good growth in Asian, North Atlantic, and European traffic but declined in Middle Eastern and domestic traffic. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dT6_cYAS

In honor of International Women's Day this week, we’re sharing inspiring career stories all week long. Today, we’re excited to feature the story of Anne Hippi, OCC Duty Manager. Anne's career at Finnair began over 30 years ago at the airport check-in. The interesting and international environment attracted her and completely swept her away. Nowadays, she works as an Operations Control Center (OCC) Duty Manager, where she plays an important role in ensuring smooth operations of Finnair's flights. The OCC team consists of experts responsible for their own entities, for example, cabin and flight crew, passenger services, flight planning, and operational changes. Different situations arise every day, which the team then solves together.   Before the OCC, Anne has worked at Finnair in other positions. She started at Finnair's check-in back in 1988, after which she worked in arrival services, then in the domestic team with various tasks, and soon after also as a manager. Once the domestic and international terminals were combined into one, her responsibilities expanded to cover all traffic instead of just domestic flights.   In her daily work, Anne is proud to be able to help the team make good decisions and solve problems. During her career at Finnair, Anne has received a lot of training, including training on flight planning, which she’s able to utilise in her work daily. “I’m proud that I dared to apply for this position,” she says.   Anne would also encourage her 15-year-old self to be brave and follow her dreams without letting others influence her choices too much. For young women interested in aviation, Anne assures that the career is rewarding and interesting, and full of different opportunities. “Women have traditionally been underrepresented in our Operations Control, but this career path is definitely also a great choice for women. The OCC always needs talented women to join its ranks,” Anne says.

To celebrate International Women's Day this week, we publish inspiring career stories throughout the week. Today's career story is introducing Kecia Grigoriew, Senior Cabin Crew Member and First Aid Instructor. Kecia works at Finnair in two different roles: as a Cabin Crew Member on board, and as a First Aid Instructor at Finnair Flight Academy. “Cabin crew members play an important role not only in ensuring flight safety but also in mastering first aid skills – you never know when quick and competent action can save a passenger’s life,” Kecia says. She is also part of the Test Lab group, who tests and develops new onboard procedures.   Kecia has worked in her double role for over seven years. When she began her journey at Finnair, she already had aviation experience from her previous roles with other airlines. At Finnair, she was intrigued by the diverse career opportunities, high service standards and safety culture, and the opportunity to work with colleagues from different cultures. Kecia is proud to be working among Finnair's professional cabin crew, ensuring that customers have a safe and comfortable journey, every single day.   Before her 20-year-long aviation career, Kecia studied communications at the University of London, and worked in communications and press publications in both London and Helsinki. During her flying career, she completed nursing studies, and is currently studying for a master's degree. In her work, Kecia finds it meaningful to be able to combine her aviation and healthcare expertise. “As a first aid instructor, I can see the impact of training in a concrete way – it’s rewarding to watch how the cabin crew's confidence and readiness to act increases in first aid situations on board.”   Kecia would advise her 15-year-old self to be brave and believe in herself, as the best learning experiences often come from unexpected turns. She urges young girls who dream of a career in aviation to dream boldly – the sky is not the limit! “The women at Finnair have strength, professionalism, a sense of humour, great team spirit and perseverance. We have a wonderful work community where we support and encourage each other,” Kecia thanks.