14,000 VOTED ON FINNAIR’S AIRCRAFT OF THE FUTURE

(Warsaw 13.7.2009) To mark the 85th anniversary of its founding, Finnair joined the aircraft manufacturer Airbus and other industry experts in envisioning what flying would be like in 2093. In a competition launched in March, people had the opportunity to vote on which futuristic aircraft was the most captivating and to present their own visions of what the flying of the future might be like. The competition attracted a total of 14,000 entries.

When voting on which of the Kauko Helavuo-drawn aircraft was the most captivating, participants’ justifications varied from visual impact to flying comfort. The aircraft were frequently rated according to their spaciousness and entertainment possibilities as well as their surprising and fun designs, their aerodynamic qualities and environmental friendliness. The wing-shaped Finnair A600-850, intended for short-haul routes, was voted the most enchanting design. 

Approximately one thousand visionaries submitted their views on the flying of the future. They forecast a significant growth in flying and that flying habits will simultaneously become more individual; that aircraft will come in many forms; small, compact aircraft for individual flying and spacious vessels for transporting the masses. It is envisioned that fast aircraft will run on energy waste or vegetable oil.

“The competition received no special marketing, yet we received a total of 14,000 entries from all around the world. These provided us with valuable feedback on what kind of services people wish and expect from the aircraft of the future,” says Finnair SVP Communications Christer Haglund.

The prize for the best vision, Finnair flight tickets between Europe and Asia, was won by Dattatray Kuvalekar from India. The emphasis of Kuvalekar’s vision was on individuality: “Every passenger will have their own capsule docked to a larger vessel. Passengers can therefore select the interior design and colours, the temperature of the air and food to suit their own tastes.”

Also new technology played an important part in Kuvalekar’s vision: “Radio-frequency identification (RFID) passports will allow passengers to slip through border checks in the twinkling of an eye, and baggage will be automatically delivered to passengers’ homes or the travel destination.”

With the prize tickets Kuvalekar intends to fly to Finland. “I’ve visited Finland twice before and it will be a real privilege to enjoy again the Land of the Midnight Sun and Thousands of Lakes,” he says.

Further information on the visions of future flying and on the pictures of the aircraft can be found at the address www.departure2093.com. The pictures of the aircraft can be located via the FUTURE FLEET link on the left side of the page.

Further information:

Finnair Media Desk tel. +358 9 818 4020 or media.desk@finnair.com
Finnair blogs: http://blogs.finnair.com
Image bank: www.finnair.com/gallery
Finnair Group website: www.finnairgroup.com
via.Helsinki: www.viahelsinki.com