After a two-year roll-out, Finnair’s revamped long-haul cabin is now on all the its routes from Helsinki to the US, Middle East and Asia. Olivia Palamountain reports

In June 2024, Finnair successfully completed its ambitious €200 million long-haul cabin renewal project, refurbishing its entire fleet of A350s and A330s.

The comprehensive upgrade, which began in 2022, includes the introduction of an entirely new business class seat, a new premium economy cabin, and a refreshed economy class seat, all with “Nordic cool” styling.

This significant investment aims to provide customers with an enhanced onboard experience on routes connecting Helsinki with destinations in the US, Middle East and Asia.

Ole Orvér, CCO of Finnair, says: “After just two years, it is fantastic to have completed the rollout of our new award-winning long-haul cabin. Customer feedback on our revolutionary business class seat and brand-new premium economy cabin has been excellent.” Finnair_A350_Plane_from_Behind_2 (4) Finnair_A350_Premium_Economy_Class_Seat_Sleep_Sideview_v2 (12) The new cabin concept has already garnered industry recognition, winning “Cabin Concept of the Year” from Onboard Hospitality, “Best Cabin Innovation” from APEX, and “Best Cabin (First & Business Class)” at the Yacht and Aviation Awards. It has also received accolades from the Crystal Cabin Awards and Skytrax.

A key feature of the upgrade is the innovative business class seat, developed in collaboration with Collins Aerospace. The unique fixed shell lounge seat is designed to maximise space and offers a wide range of sitting and sleeping positions, allowing passengers to customise their space during long-haul flights.

The cabin’s design draws inspiration from Nordic aesthetics, featuring a warm, dark colour scheme that aligns with the airline’s non-Schengen lounges at Helsinki airport. This cohesive design approach extends the Finnair brand experience from ground to air.Finnair A350 Business Class_Cabin_Moodlights (20)Finnair_A350_Mid_Galley (20) Finnair A350 econom class_Seats_Behind_v2 (8)Looking ahead, Finnair plans to continue investing in its customer experience. The airline has announced upcoming renovations for its regional E190 aircraft cabins, which will adopt design elements from the long-haul fleet.

Additionally, a new, larger lounge is set to open in the Schengen area of Helsinki airport, catering to Business Class customers and Finnair Plus tier members.

This comprehensive cabin upgrade represents a significant step in Finnair’s efforts to enhance its service offering and maintain competitiveness in the challenging aviation market. As airlines worldwide strive to differentiate their products, Finnair’s investment in customer experience demonstrates its commitment to providing a high-quality, consistent service across its long-haul network.