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Finnair brings back hot meals, bigger menus on all routes
Wednesday May 5, 9:12 am ET
By Matti Huuhtanen, Associated Press Writer
HELSINKI, Finland (AP) -- Bowing to passenger wishes and hoping to attract new customers, Finnair on Wednesday brought back free hot meals on all of its major routes, including for economy class travelers in Europe.
Hit by a downturn in air travel after the SARS epidemic and the Iraq war, Finnair last year introduced cold meals on some destinations, mostly in Europe, in line with many other carriers.
Now, Finland's national airline is aiming high -- to provide Europe's best in-flight meal service by 2005.
"Our customers want good service and we aim to give them the best in Europe," Finnair spokesman Christer Haglund said, conceding that customers had requested hot food.
"This is not just a challenge for budget airlines, but for many other regular carriers who only provide hot meals at a price," he said.
Complimentary hot meals will be provided on all flights lasting at least two hours, and business-class passengers will have a wider menu.
Hot breakfasts also will be available for passengers in business class on short flights, including from Helsinki to Moscow, Oslo, Copenhagen and Goteborg, Sweden. They will include a wide choice of juices and fresh warm bread.
Haglund said Finnair saved money by serving cold meals, but declined to mention amounts. He said the airline expected a turnaround this year after seeing a fall in passengers in 2003.
"We are returning to normal. Demand on our flights has been excellent, well above the European average," Haglund said. "Our Asian figures are in a realm of their own."
In March, the number of passengers flying Finnair grew by 17 percent and Asian traffic increased 34 percent -- the ninth consecutive month of strong growth on Asian routes.
Finnair, founded in 1923, is one of the world's oldest airlines. It is a member of the OneWorld alliance which includes American Airlines and British Airways. It flies to 50 destinations with a fleet of 60 aircraft.
Last month, it was singled out as the "most pet-friendly airline" by the U.S. Animal Fair magazine's "Five Dog Bone Awards."
Finnair brings back hot meals, bigger menus on all routes
Wednesday May 5, 9:12 am ET
By Matti Huuhtanen, Associated Press Writer
HELSINKI, Finland (AP) -- Bowing to passenger wishes and hoping to attract new customers, Finnair on Wednesday brought back free hot meals on all of its major routes, including for economy class travelers in Europe.
Hit by a downturn in air travel after the SARS epidemic and the Iraq war, Finnair last year introduced cold meals on some destinations, mostly in Europe, in line with many other carriers.
Now, Finland's national airline is aiming high -- to provide Europe's best in-flight meal service by 2005.
"Our customers want good service and we aim to give them the best in Europe," Finnair spokesman Christer Haglund said, conceding that customers had requested hot food.
"This is not just a challenge for budget airlines, but for many other regular carriers who only provide hot meals at a price," he said.
Complimentary hot meals will be provided on all flights lasting at least two hours, and business-class passengers will have a wider menu.
Hot breakfasts also will be available for passengers in business class on short flights, including from Helsinki to Moscow, Oslo, Copenhagen and Goteborg, Sweden. They will include a wide choice of juices and fresh warm bread.
Haglund said Finnair saved money by serving cold meals, but declined to mention amounts. He said the airline expected a turnaround this year after seeing a fall in passengers in 2003.
"We are returning to normal. Demand on our flights has been excellent, well above the European average," Haglund said. "Our Asian figures are in a realm of their own."
In March, the number of passengers flying Finnair grew by 17 percent and Asian traffic increased 34 percent -- the ninth consecutive month of strong growth on Asian routes.
Finnair, founded in 1923, is one of the world's oldest airlines. It is a member of the OneWorld alliance which includes American Airlines and British Airways. It flies to 50 destinations with a fleet of 60 aircraft.
Last month, it was singled out as the "most pet-friendly airline" by the U.S. Animal Fair magazine's "Five Dog Bone Awards."
