Finnair to introduce anti-jetlag headsets to airplanes
(Warsaw 19.3.2012) Bright light can alleviate or prevent symptoms caused by changes in the circadian rhythm. Finnair is the first airline in the world to bring a bright light headset to the airplanes. The airline will arrange a pilot test of the innovative Finnish-designed device called Valkee between end March and end April, for business class passengers on the route between Helsinki and Shanghai.
The Valkee device aims at adding to wellbeing by channeling bright light into the brain via the ear canal, increasing the amount of light received by the brain to a natural level. It can thereby help passengers better adapt to jet lag and the fluctuation of the circadian rhythm. Valkee provides a safe and natural way to charge oneself, and it is easy to carry due to its small size.
“Introducing the Valkee bright light headset is one way of adding interesting experiences onboard Finnair flights. As an innovative airline, we actively look for new ways to improve the wellbeing and comfort of our passengers”, says Jarkko Konttinen, Finnair’s Vice President, Global Brand & Marketing Communications.
Passengers who wish to take part in the pilot are asked to fill in a questionnaire after testing the Valkee device in accordance with the instructions of the cabin crew. For instance on an east-bound flight en-route to Shanghai, the Valkee device should be used about an hour before landing when it’s early morning in Shanghai.
The Valkee bright light headset is a product of a Finnish design company by the same name. It is approved as a Class II(a) medical device and has received the CE-certificate.
After the pilot test, the Valkee bright light device will be added as a sales item for Finnair.
For more information:
Finnair Media Desk tel. +358 9 818 4020, comms@finnair.com
Jarkko Konttinen, VP Global Brand Marketing Communictions, tel. +358 9 818 8805
Finnair on Facebook: www.facebook.com/finnair
Photo bank: http://gallery.finnair.com
Finnair blogs: http://blogs.finnair.com
Finnair Group website: www.finnairgroup.com
Feel Finnair: http://feel.finnair.com
Valkee website: http://www.valkee.pl/
Finnair is a boutique airline specialised in fast connections between Europe and Asia via Helsinki. The airline carries more than eight million passengers annually and flies to more than 65 destinations in Asia, Europe and the Americas.
