Aircraft Interiors International visited Helsinki to view Finnair’s new long-haul cabin designs. We captured a few design details of the €200 million (US$229m) project…
We stepped inside a maintenance hangar at Vantaa Airport. Among the aircraft within we found the first A350 fitted with the airline’s new long-haul cabins
We couldn’t resist a walkaround before climbing on board
Seeing an engine close up is always amazing
And the front is even cooler
A stairway to heaven? We would soon find out
The view from the top of the stairs
Some details of the 2015 A350. Finnair was the first European airline to take delivery of an A350. Now let’s step inside…
One side of the boarding zone, finished in a new residential-inspired scheme, features a backlit round mirror
The fore wall also features a credenza for inflight snacks and drinks
The opposite wall in the Door 2 boarding area also features the galley, concealed behind wooden doors. The glazed cabinets will hold the airline’s famous Iittala glassware
The wooden doors conceal the various galley inserts and carts. Finnair worked with AIM Altitude on the designs
Step inside the business class cabin and the changes are immediately obvious, from the darker colour scheme to the new seat: the AirLounge, for which Finnair is launch customer
The curved composite seat shells help create a soft feel for the cabin furniture
The centre doubles in the 1-2-1 cabin
Even the rear wall of the cabin has a soft, padded feel
The footwell of the AirLounge, as passengers will find it when boarding
A small legrest can be deployed using the metal lever
Legrest deployed!
This is when AirLounge gets really interesting. Raise the infill panel and a flat surface is created, useful for lounging or sleeping
Slide your legs into the footwell and a restful sleep awaits. Finnair will also supply a mattress and other bedding to enhance sleep comfort
Note the curve of the AirLounge seat. The feel is akin to a sofa, giving passengers freedom of movement. It shows that comfort can be achieved without complex actuation systems
The side table has a wood finish, with lighting controls so they can be accessed whether sitting or lying down
The side table surface also incorporates a wireless charging pad
We found David Kondo, Finnair’s senior manager, customer experience and design strategy on board. Note he is demonstrating how passengers can sit cross-legged in AirLounge
The outer seats extend as close to the sidewall as possible, for a cohesive cabin feel
The composite shells created a few design challenges. Find out more in the March 2022 issue of Aircraft Interiors International
Business class passengers will receive an amenity kit and headphones, among other inflight luxuries
This lower stowage compartment is ideal for keeping small items secure, and accessible when lying down
Another useful stowage space, suitable for the seated position
The upper stowage compartment contains various charging options, including USB A, USB C, PC power, complementing the wireless mobile charging pad on the table
The AirLounge seat concept was originally conceived by PriestmanGoode of London. The seat was further developed by Collins Aerospace, with customisation and final design execution by Finnair and its appointed design partner, Tangerine
Premium Economy
Let’s step in the economy cabin: a new travel class for Finnair. The airline is also launch customer for another seat: the HAECO Vector Premium model
Comfort features include a six-way adjustable headrest
With a deep 8in recline and a waterfall leg rest, the Vector Premium is a generous model in the premium economy sector
Finnair is launching premium economy with a 26-seat cabin in the A350
Finnair worked closely with HAECO and Tangerine to customise the seatbacks. Note the 13in IFE screens
Lower the lid of the small upper stowage compartment and a useful device holder is revealed
Premium economy customers can two meal services as well as a selection of drinks throughout the flight. The cocktail table has a grippy surface to help keeps glasses in place
The lower stowage compartment is large enough to accommodate a laptop
The neck pillow and woven blanket have been designed by Marimekko, the Finnish design house, specifically for the new premium economy experience
Premium economy guests also receive a Marimekko-designed amenity kit
