Blue Wings Togetherness issue June - August 2023

Page 1

NATURE AS THEIR MUSE

FUTURE-PROOF New age of aviation MADEIRA MAGIC Designed for digital nomads ECO RESORT Regenerative travel Finnish style Togetherness issue Summer 2023 INNOVATIVE ARTISTS
BLUE WINGS
DON’T BE SHY — HELP YOURSELF TO THIS ISSUE AND SHARE IT WITH A LOVED ONE!

Uusi Kia EV9

Muokkaa tapaamme liikkua.

Uusi Kia EV9 tulee muokkaamaan käsityksiämme perinteisestä käyttökokemuksesta. Aina täysin sähköinen ja kolmella istuinrivillä varustettu Kia-malliston uusi lippulaiva edustaa viimeisintä suunnittelua. Rauhallisen tyylikäs muotoilu noudattaa merkin ”Opposites United” -muotoilufilosofiaa, johon on haettu inspiraatiota luonnon ja rakennetun maailman vastakohdista. Kia EV9 rakentuu puhtaasti sähköautoja varten kehitetylle E-GMP-alustalle ja 800 voltin teknologia mahdollistaa huippunopean lataamisen. Lukuisien kuljettajaa avustavien järjestelmien lisäksi viimeisintä teknologiaa edustavat esimerkiksi uuden sukupolven etäpysäköintijärjestelmä ja digitaalinen älyavain. Uusi Kia EV9 on tullut muokkaamaan tapaamme liikkua.

> Teho: jopa 283 kW/600 Nm

> Toimintamatka sähköllä: jopa 541 km

> Huippunopea lataus: jopa 239 km 15 minuutissa

> Kiihtyvyys 0 –100 km/h: vain 6 s

> Saatavana taka- ja nelivetoisena

Kaikki ilmoituksessa mainitut tiedot/arvot ovat alustavia, ja voivat muuttua/poiketa varsinaisesta myyntimallista.

MANDATUM.FI/ KANSSASIJOITTAMINEN
NEW LUXURY HOTEL OPENING DECEMBER 2023 HOTELMARIA.FI

FOKUS MEDIA FINLAND

Managing editor Mirkka Helkkula

Consulting editor Shelly Nyqvist

Art director Sesilja Lindell

English editing Silja Kudel

Reproduction Teemu Salovaara

Cover Kustaa Saksi by Liisa Valonen

Behind this issue Petri Artturi

Asikainen, Tim Bird, Alessandro Capoccia, Mark Fletcher, Henni

Hyvärinen, Laura Iisalo, Outi

Kainiemi, Suvi-Tuuli Kankaanpää, Satu Kemppainen, Juliia Kovalenko, Silja Kudel, Maija Lähdesmäki, Lissu

Moulton, Riina Paakkinen, Katja

Pantzar, Mike Peake, Joana Taborda, Liisa Valonen

Blue Wings Online finnair.com/bluewings

Editorial Offices

Hämeentie 135 A, 00560 Helsinki, Finland

Advertising Sales

Jaana Lindvall-Harki jaana.lindvall-harki@fokusmedia.fi

Publisher Fokus Media Finland

Printed by Kroonpress Ltd, Tartu, Estonia 2023

Paper Galerie Fine Gloss 65 g

Cover Paper UPM Finesse Gloss 200 g

ISSN-0358-7703

Welcome onboard

Editor-in-Chief

Heidi Lemmetyinen heidi.lemmetyinen@finnair.com

Finnair Head Office

Tietotie 9 A, Helsinki Airport, 1053 Finnair, Finland, tel. +358 (0)9 818 81, Postal address: P. O. Box 15, 01053 Finnair, Finland

Customer Feedback finnair.com/feedback or by mail: Customer Relations, SL/403, FI-01053 Finnair finnair.com, finnair.fi, finnairgroup.com

A century of new horizons

ON MARCH 20 , 1924 , a Junkers

F13 seaplane took off from Helsinki carrying mail to Tallinn. Finnair, originally Aero, was founded on November 1, 1923, and that mail run was our maiden flight.

Ever since then, we have been proudly bringing people and cultures together. Our mission is more relevant today than ever before, as we all need human connections.

Few airlines have made it to the ripe old age of 100. It is a hardwon achievement that deserves

celebration. But this milestone also comes with the responsibility to plan for the next 100 years. For us, this means a commitment to carbon neutrality by 2045. Weight reduction is one small action serving this goal, which means that Blue Wings will be going online after this 100th anniversary issue.

Finnair would not exist without our employees, customers, and partners. We are grateful to everyone who has been part of our story, and also to every reader for letting us be part of your journey today.

Blue Wings online at finnair.com/ bluewings
Read
TOPI MANNER President & CEO, FInnair
Editorial
2023 BLUE WINGS 7
Contents Summer 2023 15 GLOBAL PULSE Nordic innovations 19 WISE CRAFT Master of materials 21 LITHUANIA Thoughtful style 24 THINK AGAIN Regenerative travel pioneers 28 EMERALD CITY Trailblazer in sustainability 32 INVESTIGATION Greener air travel Dream Empress of Noodelist Thuong Tan PAGE 38 Planetpositive actions PAGE 24 Dispatch from Seattle PAGE 28 Explore 38 PASSION PROJECT Instant noodle entrepreneur 42 MADEIRA Remote work hub 50 TOKYO Megacity vibes 57 SMART STUFF Clever thinking by companies Is sustainable aviation fuel enough? Page 32 Two of the happy faces behind Madeira’s digital nomad scene Page 42 2023 BLUE WINGS 9
Contents Summer 2023 Fly 83 FINNAIR HIGHLIGHTS What’s new 85 COORDINATES Cape Town 86 FLYING STORIES Why they fly 90 SMOOTH TRAVELLING Helsinki Airport 94 FAMILY AFFAIR Love for aviation 96 MAPS Destination checklist 98 TRAVEL TIPS Favourite passenger getaways Create 63 FINE FINNISH ARTISTS Three creative geniuses 72 TIME FLIES Finnair fashion archaeology 75 CONVERSATION Erin Niimi Longhurst 77 SHOWROOM Global design Net zero mini-city PAGE 90 Bio-artsy playground of Kustaa Saksi PAGE 63
looks Page 72 Tokyo’s retro-modern train line Page 50 10 BLUE WINGS 2023
Iconic Finnair crew

Dream

Keep your curiosity alive

Small actions, big difference

Where a Finnish cottage holiday gives back more than it takes (p. 24)

2023 BLUE WINGS 13
PHOTO LAURA IISALO
CELINE GUCCI BALENCIAGA GIVENCHY FENDI SAINT LAURENT LOEWE BOTTEGA VENETA BRUNELLO CUCINELLI POHJOISESPLANADI 25 - 27 00100 HELSINKI MON TO FRI | 11.00 – 19.00 SAT | 11.00 – 17.00 @LUXBAGOFFICIAL WWW.LUXBAG.FI VISIT US IN HELSINKI High Fashion in the heart of Helsinki OFFICIAL STORE

Must-experience

L apland’s magical light

Finland’s only music festival focusing on the music of the Sámi, Ijahis Idja (“Nightless Night”) takes place in Inari during the summer when the sun barely sets in the far north. The annual event features traditional Sámi music acts along with upcoming artists’ performances celebrating the music of indigenous peoples. August 18–19, 2023. ijahisidja.fi

Global pulse

Nordic ideas for better living

A TRIO OF HELSINKI CAFÉS

THIS YEAR marks the 125th anniversary of one of Finland’s greatest designers and architects, Alvar Aalto (1898–1976). Aalto’s signature is everywhere in the Finnish capital, including the newly opened Café Savoy bistro on the Esplanade, little sister to the legendary Savoy restaurant upstairs. Little Finlandia, an event centre just beside Aalto’s majestic marble masterpiece Finlandia Hall (currently being restored) serves up food, drink, and entertainment. For book lovers, Café Aalto is a design classic tucked away on the second floor of the city centre’s Academic Bookstore.

The circular sauna brings new form to an ancient practice.

Must-steam World’s first art sauna

No visit to Finland is complete without a visit to the quintessential Finnish steam bath, the sauna. One of the country’s newest design saunas is the Art Sauna at Serlachius Museum at Gösta, about 90 kilometres from Tampere, the World’s Sauna Capital. The architecturally stunning building also houses art and design in a beautiful lakeside setting. serlachius.fi/en/art-sauna

Must-music

Go with the flow

Pop superstars Lorde, Blur, and Suede are just some of the big-name performers at this summer’s Flow Festival, which Vogue calls “the coolest festival in the Nordics.” One of the world’s first festivals to go carbon neutral, Flow takes place from August 11–13, 2023 in Helsinki. flowfestival.com

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Alvar Aalto’s surname means “wave” in Finnish. FACT
FUN Capital delights
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES, VILLE FOFONOFF, & OPHELIA MIKKELSON JONES

Global pulse

Nordic ideas for better living

Finnish firsts

PLANET SAVING INNOVATIONS

A FRESH CROP of Finnish companies is making global waves with sustainable solutions to the challenges facing us all. One of those companies, Solar Foods, has created Solein, which TIME magazine named one of the best inventions of 2020. The completely new high-protein food source can be used as an ingredient in alternative dairy products such as yoghurt, ice cream, and spreads as well as in meat alternatives, sauces, and soups.

“We want to be the world’s first commercial facility to produce food by using carbon dioxide and electricity as raw materials,” says Solar Foods co-founder Pasi Vainikka

Solein is made by a fermentation process that utilises air as one of its main ingredients and is powered by renewable energy. Possibly the world’s most environmentally-friendly food, Solein could provide a solution to global hunger.

Other newsworthy Finnish planet-savers include Origin by Ocean, a company that turns harmful algae in waters from the Caribbean to the Baltic into useable materials that are sold to food, cosmetics, textile, packing, and agricultural companies.

Mending magic S mart design souvenirs

For globetrotters who like to travel light, Fab Patch garment plasters offer a quick stylish fix to mend clothing and eliminate textile waste by extending the life of attire. Made from recycled plastic bottles, the self-adhesive patches are easy to apply and come in a range of colours and prints. vaatelaastari.fi

Marimekko creates its first collection from wood-based fibre.

A change of mindset Fashion on track

Spinnova transforms the way textiles are manufactured globally by transforming cellulose from sustainably-sourced raw wood into ready-to-spin fibres for clothing. The Finnish company works together with major international brands from Adidas to design icon Marimekko.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES
FUN FACT
Edible protein Solein features a distinct yellow colour.
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© 2023 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. MARQ ® COLLECTION EXCELLENCE THE QUEST FOR HAS BROKEN NEW GROUND KELLO- JA KULTASEPÄNLIIKE H.J. SUNINEN OY www.suninen.fi KESKISEN KELLO OY www.keskisenkello.fi KULTA-CENTER OY www.kulta-center.com LAATUKORU OY www.laatukoru.fi LAHDEN KELLOKESKUS OY www.kellokeskus.fi SALKARI OY www.salkari.fi

Helsingin Maininki kuuluu parhaaseen

A-energialuokkaan. Täten kodeissa jokaisen on mahdollista elää vastuullisesti mukavuudesta tinkimättä – ja kustannuksia säästäen.

Oma tontti

A energia

Oma tontti A-energialuokka

Helsingin Maininki

Kruunuvuorenranta

Kerrostalo • Kerroksia 2–5 • Huoneita 1–6

Pinta-ala 29,5–137,5 m² • Arv. valm. 2/2025

Myyntihinta 118 560–625 600 €

Velaton hinta 296 400–1 564 000 €

skanska.fi/maininki

Kestää elämän.

Asuntomyynti 0800 162 162

As. Oy Helsingin Maininki Aurinkopaneelit Visualisointi Visualisointi
skanska.fi/kodit
RAKENTEILLA

Wise craft

Local talent to watch

Daddy of design

“THOUGHTFUL, functional… and joyful!”

When asked to sum up his style in three adjectives, Harri Koskinen nails the brief — as only to be expected from Finland’s leading contemporary designer.

In a career spanning three decades, Koskinen has built up a portfolio of giddying breadth. Whether he is designing a loudspeaker, brand identity, or hotel interior, every detail bears the stamp of supreme functionality.

“Everything must be there for a logical reason, fulfilling an expressed need. I see design as a conversation with the client. I listen and deliver,” he says.

A master of many materials, Koskinen is an effortless shapeshifter who has recently made his mark also as an artist. His one-off glass sculptures reveal a new whimsical side to his creative persona. Is there perhaps a frustrated artist trapped in the body of the functionalist?

“To be honest, I enjoy working within strict limitations. Art is more demanding because I feel more naked,” he says.

Harri Koskinen designed Finnair’s superlight tableware, which equally delights the hand, mouth, and eye.

One of his recent pet projects is Iittala’s new tableware for Finnair. Weighing one-fifth less than its predecessor, the Kuulas collection adds cosy Nordic freshness to the cabin interior.

“This time I had a strict brief, which gave me more freedom!” jokes Koskinen.

“It was a dream job for someone with my background. And I had a great dialogue with the Finnair team.”

“Dialogue” is a word that crops up frequently in Koskinen’s speech, especially when he reels off his long list of international clients, which include Muji, Issey Miyake, Artek, Svensk Tenn, and most recently Hermès.

The upcoming year promises a packed schedule, but for now, Koskinen’s most exciting “project” is being a first-time dad.

“Before the pandemic, I was always travelling and never thought about starting a family. Now my best moments are spent running after my daughter, who turns two in October.” 

FINNAIR TEXT SILJA KUDEL PHOTO HENNI HYVÄRINEN
2023 BLUE WINGS 19

EXPLORE THE UNIQUE MIX OF FASHION, FOOD AND LIFESTYLE

Kickstart your holiday by visiting the most popular shopping centre, in downtown Helsinki!

In Kamppi Helsinki you will find the largest MUJI store in Europe and almost 130 other retailers, including international and Finnish fashion stores, lifestyle stores, beauty and lifestyle services and much much more. There are also nearly 50 restaurants and cafés, offerering delicious food, drinks and pastries! See you soon!

kamppihelsinki.fi

FINNAIR FLIES TO Vilnius (VNO) up to four times a day.

Culture swap

Destination inspiration

Packed with organic ingredients

Easy upgrade

Add a bit of thoughtful style to your travelling staples the Lithuanian way.

Knitted by female artisans

Handmade to last

1 — TOP NOTES Agenda of Change by Noema Paper House is perfect for jotting down travel thoughts and life goals. €20 from locals.lt

2 — COSY COTTON Ethically made dusty blue Delčia cotton sweater is ideal for layering on and off the plane. €179 from theknottyones.com

3 — NORSE MAGIC Inspired by folk wisdom, Frigga home spray brings fresh scents to any space. €59 from smellslikespells.com

4 — ART WEAR Limited edition Coocoomos by Luka Brase natural silk scarf instantly upgrades any outfit. €79 from coocoomos.com

5 — ARM CANDY Flightplan Mini leather bag by Tashe Tashe fits all travel essentials and looks the part. €219 from tashetashe.com

6 — SIMPLE’N CHIC The handcrafted 14k Yellow Gold Basic Bracelet with Diamond is a delicate statement piece. €330 from miutto.com

7 — BEAUTY BOOST Fragrant Sun Juice body oil blend deeply nourishes skin all summer long. €16,95 from uogauoga.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES
COMPILED BY LAURA IISALO
1 7 2 3 4 5 6
2023 BLUE WINGS 21

CONGRATULATIONS FOR 100 YEARS OF FINNAIR – AND THANKS FOR DECADES OF COOPERATION!

Tampere-Pirkkala Airport is more global than ever

Tampere, Finland charms its guests as both a business and travel destination. For now, the flights between Tampere and the rest of the world are riding on the wings of foreign partners.

Whichever way you fly, in Europe you can still get home for the evening. Tampere-Pirkkala Airport offers you direct connections to Riga, London, Malaga, Rhodes, Milan and Nice, as well as the global hubs Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Munich. Have a nice trip!

@BusinessTampereFI

We’ve flown through the years together.

Tampere Airport was completed in 1937, and its first passenger terminal in 1941. The current airport building was constructed in 1979. Today, the airport offers smooth connecting flights to more than 500 destinations around the world.

Amsterdam
London Helsinki 1 h 2 h 3 h Munich
Rhodes Antalya Nice Milan
Gran Canaria Tenerife Riga
1979 2023
Malaga Copenhagen TAMPERE 1937 1941
Photos: Laura Vanzo / Visit Tampere, Vapriikki image archive

Think again Touch the earth lightly

How can we travel better, more meaningfully, and with a lighter footprint? A family-owned cottage resort outside Helsinki is a pioneer in planet-positive travel.

24 BLUE WINGS 2023
TEXT AND PHOTOS LAURA IISALO

The family-owned resort consists of lakeside cottages and villas surrounded by Nuuksio National Park, a 40-minute drive from Helsinki.

While it’s one thing to understand the concept of regenerative travel, it’s another to put it into practice. Thanks to a trio of innovative entrepreneurs who walk the talk, the philosophy is quickly gaining speed.

“The idea is to give back more than you take — leaving the destination better than you found it,” explains Annu Huotari, who runs the luxury Hawkhill Cottage Resort together with her two siblings, Kaisa AlaOutinen and Matti Ala-Outinen

“We as business owners do all we can, but those who stay with us can do their part, too. Taking care of the environment is a job we do together,” says Huotari.

Surrounded by wilderness, just a short distance from Helsinki, Hawkhill overlooks Nuuksio National Park, a destination famous for its many lakes, green forests, and steep cliffs. The resort was founded by the owners’ grandfather Eino Ala-Outinen, who built five modest cabins for busy city dwellers to come and unwind in a peaceful sanctuary.

The original cabins have since been replaced by four luxury log cabins suitable for year-round living. Three cabins handcrafted by the owners’ father, Teuvo, are still in place, all beautifully renovated to meet the discerning standards of today’s guests. The interiors retain the cosy feel of a traditional Finnish cottage.

“People come here to enjoy the art of slow living. For the past twelve years, we have been focusing on delivering quality through Finnish design, local handicraft,

ANNU HUOTARI, KAISA ALA-OUTINEN, AND MATTI ALA-OUTINEN

Founders of Hawkhill Cottage Resort

OUR INSPIRATION Our grandfather’s legacy. We are carrying on his pioneering work in the cottage business.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED The best things in life are simple — blueberry picking, sitting by the fire, or rowing on a misty lake early in the morning.

OUR BOLDEST MOVE

We have managed to grow financially while minimising our carbon footprint.

Kaisa and her siblings decided to rehabilitate a six-hectare peatland, home to many species of plants and animals.

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2023 BLUE WINGS 25

The resort was founded 60 years ago by the current owners’ grandfather, Eino Ala-Outinen, who settled in the area with his wife,

and modern luxury. International guests have been especially impressed by the silence and the total immersion in nature — things we Finns might take for granted,” says Huotari.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Everything at the resort is designed to have a positive impact on the environment and the community. The cottages are powered by fossil-free electricity, and disposable tableware is banned. Guests are encouraged to save water and recycle waste, and they are invited to take part in eliminating invasive species and building insect hotels. With help from experts, Hawkhill has rehabilitated a six-hectare peatland to compensate their emissions. The peatland is an efficient carbon sink and important for biodiversity.

Collaboration with the local community is a big part of the regenerative mindset. Working together with a local water protection association, Hawkhill helps to eliminate unwanted fish species and is looking into ways of getting guests involved.

“We rent and share. There’s no point in purchasing something we only need occasionally, or building a new kitchen if we can use an existing one. That’s why we use

the catering kitchen at the village hall. It’s a win-win situation,” says Huotari.

Hawkhill is one of the first Finnish tourism enterprises to calculate its carbon footprint, which has helped the owners plan actions to further reduce their footprint. Emissions are compensated annually through certified programmes.

Acting responsibly begins with transparency. Hawkhill is open about its good practices — as well as its failings — to inspire and educate others. The open policy seems to be getting noticed.

“A growing number of luxury accommodation enterprises are making a committed effort to offer a regenerative travel experience. It’s a competitive advantage for everybody, and it’s also what our guests want. Modern luxury can be sustainable,” says Huotari. 

It was Matti’s idea to use Hawkhill to help fight climate change. Hawkhill was awarded the Green Key environmental certificate in 2019 and the Sustainable Travel Finland label in 2020. Toini, as a Karelian evacuee after the Second World War.
26 BLUE WINGS 2023
Visit Syöte syoteofficial syote.fi

Sustainable in Seattle

Filled with enthusiastic recyclers, expert composters, and organic appreciators, the Emerald City offers a green way of life.

Nature nurtures

You might find it hard to believe you’re still well within city limits while hiking the threemile loop in Discovery Park. The trail takes you through forested canyons and open meadows, past sandy dunes, and atop dramatic bluffs before delivering you to the water’s edge for panoramic views of the Puget Sound and nearby mountain ranges. Don’t miss the picturesque West Point Lighthouse, built in 1881.

You’re still well within city limits while exploring Discovery Park.

TEXT HALEY SHAPLEY PHOTOS ISTOCK & COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES
Inside track Seattle 28 BLUE WINGS 2023

Here’s the scoop

Local fave Frankie & Jo’s was founded with the ethos that plant-based ice cream can be a force for good, helping to reduce our dependence on cow’s milk and getting more plants into people’s lives. In addition to making crave-worthy cones filled with flavours such as Salty Caramel Ash and Matcha Mint, the company uses compostable packaging and actively works to create an inclusive setting.

>
Each month, Frankie & Jo’s releases three new seasonal flavours.
Fasetti is a Finnish furniture design house that manufactures, represents and restores Nordic design classics.
Lönnrotinkatu 3, Helsinki, Tfn.+358
ANTIQUES STORE R.MUURI
The relaunched version of the iconic Ornäs Siesta lounge chair from 1952 is manufactured in our workshop in Hollola, Finland.
ornas.fi fasetti.fi
40 5531378, antiques.fi

Reading room

See two of Seattle’s great loves — books and the environment — come together like the plot of a great novel in the Seattle Central Library. This downtown building was spearheaded by noted Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, whose glass-and-aluminium façade was designed to be both eye-catching and energy efficient. The interior contains just as much visual interest — with a colourful surprise on the fourth floor.

Hip sips 3

PROBIOTIC POWER

BIKES + BREWS

Located inside the timber-ceilinged Métier bike shop, Overcast Coffee Bar sources the ingredients for its seasonally rotating menu from small, local businesses.

Seeking Kombucha offers a bottle-swap programme for its gut-friendly drinks, which come in fun flavours such as Purple Rain (pea flower, organic lavender, and organic hibiscus).

HOPS FOR A CAUSE

Much loved for its smallbatch IPAs, pale ales, and more, Fremont Brewing Company was one of the first to sign the Brewery Climate Declaration, urging climate change action.

The 11-storey Seattle Central Library lights the way for sustainable design.
30 BLUE WINGS 2023
FINNAIR FLIES TO Seattle (SEA) three times a week.

Quality, handmade jewellery can be affordable and responsible.

Earth-friendly elegance

For a souvenir you can feel good about, visit Baleen, a zero-waste jewellery shop that turns recycled metals and unusual materials (think cellulose acetate made from plants) into affordable handcrafted accessories. The minimalist earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings are perfect for everyday wear and come in gift boxes made from 100 per cent recycled paper. 

THE BEST HIKES IN FINLAND www.ruka.fi/en/summer READ MORE
32 BLUE WINGS 2023

Blue-sky thinking: The future of air travel

The move towards sustainable aviation is underway, with new technologies and biofuels already entering the market. But is greener air travel just a flight of fantasy?

Here’s an idea: what if an aircraft crossing the Atlantic could fly a short distance behind another one, saving fuel as it “surfed” in its wake?

Or how about using municipal waste as a fuel source for aircraft or even borrowing from the idea of drones to create a battery-powered four-seater to zip people from one city-centre rooftop to another?

If these sound far-fetched, then think again. This “surfing the slipstream” concept has already been tested by aerospace industry pioneer Airbus, with potential fuel savings of 5 to 10 per cent.

Municipal waste, meanwhile, is one of the many options in the world of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which are currently being blended with standard jet fuels at a growing rate.

And that drone-like city hopper? A Brazilian company named Eve — which is 80 per cent owned by aerospace manufacturer Embraer — hope to have an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft like this in the skies in just three years.

When the airline industry announced in October 2021 that it would achieve net zero by 2050 (Finnair aims to be carbon neutral by 2045), it may have sounded like the wildest of pipe dreams.

The fact is, the sector is already off to a flying start on this long journey.

A MAMMOTH TASK FOR THE INDUSTRY

Net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 is, of course, a mammoth task — not least because it will need someone to figure out how to safely store, use, and fly with hydrogen, one of the leading new fuel options for aircraft, at minus 253 degrees.

When you look at the sheer volume of obstacles that stand between where the industry is today — aviation accounts for 2.5 per cent of global emissions — and where it has pledged to be tomorrow, it’s a challenge that looks almost overwhelming.

But overwhelming doesn’t mean impossible.

“As a company, sustainability means everything to us,” says Airbus’ head of environment & sustainability marketing, Camille Sagues. “Airbus’ purpose says that we pioneer sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world, so that’s our guiding principle.”

Sagues explains that one thing the aviation industry tends to agree on is the “pillars” (methods) that need to be exploited to decarbonise.

>
Investigation 2023 BLUE WINGS 33
The sector is already off to a flying start on this long journey.

In no particular order, Sagues says that sustainable aviation will be achieved by upgrading fleets to the latest generation aircraft, allowing for a more efficient fuel-burn and reduced carbon dioxide emissions; the emergence of new, disruptive technologies; improved airline and aircraft operations and infrastructure; new energy sources such as hydrogen and SAFs; and carbon capture or offsetting.

Airbus spends on average two billion euros a year on R&D, most of it on aircraft efficiency. The manufacturer is evaluating various concepts and maturing the required technologies — and one highlight would certainly be the company’s Blended-Wing Body concept.

It’s a revolutionary hydrogen-powered aircraft concept that resembles a flying V and boasts a highly aerodynamic design.

Another highlight is the company’s new hydrogen-powered turboprop and turbofan aircraft concepts that are being evaluated; Airbus plans to have at least one of these “ZEROe” models in service by 2035.

“We are totally up for the sustainability challenge,” says Sagues, “but it is not

just on our shoulders. We can’t do anything alone. The whole ecosystem needs to gear up.”

A SUITE OF SOLVABLE PROBLEMS

The ecosystem of which Sagues speaks has multiple moving parts.

Airports, for example, will need to adapt if they are to supply hydrogen on the tarmac — a hydrogen-powered aircraft without fuel is going nowhere.

Hydrogen, incidentally, is seen by many in aviation as an appealing long-term fuel solution, especially “green hydrogen” which is made with electricity from renewable sources. Both the creation and use of green hydrogen would result in zero carbon dioxide emissions.

Henri Hansson, senior vice president of airport infrastructure, sustainability, safety and security at Finavia, which maintains and develops Finland’s airport network, says that all of the challenges that airports will face appear solvable. In Finland at least.

“We can implement the infrastructures needed to provide sustainable aviation fuels,” he says, “and we don’t see a problem being able to provide electricity for electric aviation. With hydrogen, it’s too early to say if it could ever be produced at the airport, but I don’t see anything to delay the storage of hydrogen for fuel cells if and when the airlines start using them. That said, we’d need to study the safety side first.”

Many of Europe’s airports, he notes, are already among the most advanced in the world when it comes to embracing sustainable aviation. Finavia, for example, is a carbon-neutral company that aims to achieve net zero by 2025.

Like Sagues, Hansson says everyone in the industry must work on sustainability together. There’s a very strong need, he says, for worldwide standards that would cover such mundane but critically important things as specifications for electric chargers, for example.

It is for this very reason that Finavia

is already involved in the regulatory processes that will govern the skies of tomorrow.

A GOLDEN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

And what a sky of relief this could be!

Rodrigo Silva e Souza, vice president of marketing at Embraer, sees electric, hybrid, and hydrogen solutions powering his company’s next-gen aircraft.

And a long-established — yet still agile — company like Embraer, he feels, has the chance to outmanoeuvre bigger aircraft manufacturers who may not have the same flexibility or the expertise in commercialising smaller aircraft on which these new technologies will be deployable first. Startups, meanwhile, may be overwhelmed by the complexities of certification and regulations.

Embraer is facing the green aviation challenge head-on — not least because it represents an important business opportunity. “We take sustainability incredibly seriously,” says Silva e Souza, “and while we are committed to net zero, we look at sustainability from an economic standpoint, too.”

The whole sector, he points out, stands to benefit from a shift towards sustainable aviation. The rollout of sustainable aviation fuel, the arrival of synthetic e-fuels (though not likely to be used in meaningful quantities until the 2030s), the development of innovative new aircraft, changes to airport infrastructure — all will take time but will ultimately result in the creation of untold thousands of new jobs.

Any downsides? Of course, there will be turbulence ahead. All this activity is likely to put a pause on bargain airfares for a while.

“Going green is not cheap!” says Silva e Souza. “It’s going to require a lot of investment — billions from the aircraft manufacturers and trillions from the airports. But we have to go through it. There is no other way.” 

34 BLUE WINGS 2023
Green hydrogen is seen by many in aviation as an appealing longterm fuel solution.

Welcome to The greaTESt shopPing malL in the Nordic countries

Mall of Tripla is situated in Pasila, in the heart of Helsinki. In the wide selection of nearly 250 shops, you can find iconic Finnish design brands including Finlayson, Iittala , Marimekko , and Pentik . While taking a break from shopping, you can enjoy your time at one of the nearly 70 cafés or restaurants. Or maybe you would like to experience our entertainment specialties such as indoor surfing and beach volleyball? In our Down Under section, you can enjoy an eternal summer with +26° Celcius and palm trees.

Fredikanterassi 1, Helsinki malloftripla.fi Helsinki Airport
min
min
- Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre
- Amusement park
Helsinki
Station
of Tripla
22
4
Messukeskus
Linnanmäki
Olympiastadium
Central
Mall

Explore

Think beyond the box

noodle revolution

Noodles x moroheiya: 100% lip-smacking plant-based deliciousness (p. 38)

Instant
2023 BLUE WINGS 37
PHOTO MAIJA LÄHDESMÄKI
38 BLUE WINGS 2023
Dedicated noodle lover Thuong Tan turned her passion into a satisfying business.

FOOD PHILOSOPHY

“Sharing food experiences with my friends is my moment of instant joy.”

INSPIRATION

“I get inspiration from new places, people, and beautiful objects whether packaging or typography. I like to try new food and beverage brands every time I see them.”

INSTANT HIT

Thuong Tan is on a mission. She wants

over

Thuong Tan loves food but cannot cook. Growing up in Vantaa in Southern Finland, she subsisted on her Vietnamese mother’s homemade noodle soups but was constantly kicked out of the kitchen for nibbling the noodles before the soup was ready. Frustrated by how long it took to prepare, Tan found solace in a quicker alternative: instant noodles.

The big problem Tan saw with instant noodles is the lack of nutrients and real authentic flavours. Although satisfying, instant noodles left her hungry. As a selfprofessed noodle snob who can eat noodles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Tan wondered why there wasn’t a healthier option on the market. So she came up with one.

“My initial aha moment was to create the Chanel of instant noodles. I played with the idea for four years and eventually I had to get out of my comfort zone and just do it.”

GLOBAL NOODLE CRUSH

Tan isn’t alone in her love of noodles. The size of the global instant noodle market in 2022 was 50 billion euros, and it is estimated to reach 70 billion euros by 2028. There are plenty of instant noodles to choose from but most of the big-brand products are often fried as well as laden with gluten, additives, MSG, and palm oil.

It was clear to Tan that she could do things better. Her goal was to create a nutrition-packed product with added protein and fibre without compromising taste or texture. She teamed up with chef Petteri Luoto and food scientist Scott Loh, who both encouraged her to go plant-based.

Ultimately, it took Tan ten months to create the first product from scratch to sell to the first customer. The secret to her noodles is the not so well-known Egyptian spinach superfood moroheiya, a humble plant surprisingly chock-full of fibre, calcium, and vitamins. The noodles are air-dried and made without MSG and palm oil. Her company aims to be as environmentally friendly as possible, and the products are made locally with climate-certified partners to ensure a minimal carbon footprint.

“We are finally closing the gap between healthy and tasty. I believe that food should be tasty first and foremost. I’m not into food tech or food as medicine type of hype,” says Tan.

SILICON VALLEY VIBE

Things are looking bright for Tan, who is embarking on her fourth year of entrepreneurship.

Palo Alto, her home base in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, is a melting pot for different cultures with a vibrant food and startup scene. It is a perfect testing ground for Tan, who eventually wants Noodelist to be a globally recognised consumer brand from Finland — with Asian roots.

“Being an entrepreneur is a journey. There are good days when I make deals and some days when the going gets tough. Noodelist is my baby and I do whatever it takes to make it grow. Luckily the food industry community here is super nice and the local entrepreneurs are happy to share their knowledge and tips. We push each other forward,” says Tan. 

to win
the world with premium plant-based instant noodles that are better for people and the planet.
TEXT LAURA IISALO PHOTO MAIJA LÄHDESMÄKI
THUONG TAN Founder and CEO of Noodelist, the empress of noodles who speaks the language of food.
2023 BLUE WINGS 39
Passion project

THE DESKLESS DREAM

Field trip Madeira 42 BLUE WINGS 2023

Gonçalo Hall has always been a nomad. “I went to seven schools and three different universities, and I was always curious about living somewhere new. When I travelled, it wasn’t like ‘oh, this is pretty.’ It was more like ‘how do people live here?’”

The Portuguese entrepreneur discovered digital nomadism about ten years ago and soon became one himself, setting up base in places such as Indonesia and Brazil.

Hall’s name has been synonymous with the digital nomad scene in Portugal ever since he started the nomad village movement in Madeira. After visiting

the Portuguese island for a conference, the warm weather and fast internet convinced him that Madeira was the perfect place for his project.

His two-minute elevator pitch also convinced the regional secretary of economy, Rui Barreto, and soon enough the President himself gave his seal of approval. With the help of regional business incubator StartUp Madeira, the project kicked off in February 2021.

NOMAD TOP TEN

During the pandemic, many people learned to enjoy the freedom of working from home. Now that restrictions have

Can remote working abroad boost your happiness? To find out, we head to a digital nomad village in Madeira.
>
2023 BLUE WINGS 43

relaxed, some are taking the locationindependent workstyle to the next level: why not travel the world while you’re at it?

In January 2022, the Kayak travel search engine ranked Portugal as one of the best countries to work remotely.

“Portugal has a good climate, the people are welcoming, and we are six hours from the U.S., nine hours from Asia, and two hours from virtually anywhere in Europe. With our culture, foureuro wine, and delicious food, it’s no wonder people want to move here,” says Hall.

Initially Madeira ranked around 100th on the Nomad List of destinations rated by remote workers. Today, it is almost always in the top ten.

SEASONAL LIVING

Ponta do Sol was an obvious choice as the pilot destination for the nomad village. “It’s a picturesque village near the sea and mountains with many restaurants and cafés within walking distance. The sun shines pretty much year-round, which was a bonus since we launched in winter,” says Micaela Vieira, project manager at StartUp Madeira.

The team set up a co-working space, listed monthly accommodation deals, and convinced restaurant owners to introduce vegetarian dishes to welcome the new wave of visitors. Smooth arrangements are a bonus, but in the end, it’s the community that makes people want to stay.

“The remote lifestyle can be lonely. Always arriving in a new place and not knowing anyone is like restarting every time,” says Hall, who ensures that newcomers are extended a special warm welcome. Lunch turns into a hike. And the hike turns into a party.

“The minute your laptop closes, you are in the middle of nature, surrounded by sea, mountains, and community,” says Hall.

Some people enjoy Ponta do Sol so much that they keep returning again and again. Product manager Steven Menke from the Netherlands is spending his second winter in Madeira, where the sunny weather has helped him to combat seasonal affective disorder.

Ponta do Sol was the chosen location to pilot the nomad village project. Members gain access to a free co-working space and a local community.
> 44 BLUE WINGS 2023
Portuguese entrepreneur Gonçalo Hall kickstarted the digital nomad movement in Madeira. A project manager at StartUp Madeira, Micaela Vieira helped set up a welcoming base for remote workers in Ponta do Sol.
2023 BLUE WINGS 45
“The sun in Ponta do Sol shines pretty much year-round, which was a bonus since we launched in winter.”
Marelin Gonçalves and Luís Calado are the first faces you’ll see when you join the nomad community in the island’s capital, Funchal.
46 BLUE WINGS 2023
“Remote work opened my eyes to a better work-life balance.”

Madeira is quickly

MY HAPPY PLACE

Cristina Muntean also craved sunshine when she first came to Madeira. She is the face behind VORNICA, a women’s career consultancy with a mission to triple the number of women CEOs in Europe by 2030.

Adopting a remote-first model for her business gave Romanian-born Muntean the freedom to move wherever she wanted. After spending most of her life in Prague, Madeira is where she found her happy place.

“Here I found all the things that were missing in my life in Prague: sun, warmer weather, and also a community to connect with and bounce off ideas,” she says.

Menke and Muntean are just two of 15,000 people who have registered on the Digital Nomads Madeira website.

Since its inception, the community has welcomed people from 136 countries, the top locations being the United States, the UK, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, France, and Brazil. Most nomads spend an average of one to three months in Madeira. Newcomers are invited to connect via Slack, which is where the local community manager rolls out the weekly event calendar, announcing anything from salsa classes to morning yoga and workout sessions.

BONDING OVER BURPEES

The affiliate nomad community in the island’s capital, Funchal, is run by Luís Calado and Marelin Gonçalves. Madeira-born Calado left the island when he was only two. After working

Transitioning her business to a remotefirst model allowed Cristina Muntean to move wherever she wanted.

in the tech field in Ireland for 12 years, he decided to return home when the pandemic hit.

“I returned because of family, but I realised this island has everything I need for a perfect life. I ‘blame’ remote work for opening my eyes to a better work-life balance,” he says.

A fitness buff, Calado first got involved with the digital nomad community by doing what he loves best: hosting burpee workouts. He and Gonçalves started exercising outdoors in December 2020. As the weeks went by, the group grew and finally caught

>
Muntean and her dog Scooby enjoy a bit of playtime at Praia Formosa in Funchal. becoming a favourite destination for remote workers, featuring high on rankings such as Nomad List.
2023 BLUE WINGS 47

the attention of Gonçalo Hall, a fellow CrossFit enthusiast — and so their collaboration began.

“I still remember our first session,” says Calado. “It was me, Marelin, her sister, my brother, and a friend. This year we average 40 people per workout. Even with our weekly community party on Fridays, we still have a few ‘nutters’ who join our Saturday morning workouts.”

Today Calado and Gonçalves run Madeira Friends, a non-profit that brings together digital nomads and Madeira locals through events such as networking hangouts, hackathons, pool parties, and charity initiatives.

ESCAPING THE EXPAT BUBBLE

Another local involved in the community is Tiago Olim, who first left the island for university and ended up travelling Europe, South America, and Asia.

“Growing up in Madeira, the island seemed a bit narrow-minded. There wasn’t much of an international community, so I always dreamed of expanding my horizons,” says Olim.

When he returned ten years later,

in 2021, everything had changed. “All my friends were married and having children, so I decided I needed to get out and connect with a new crowd. It was great seeing people doing yoga in the streets.”

Olim helped to set up the Remote East Coasters community in Machico. With his passion for hospitality, he also founded a company called Maracujá Experiences, which curates experiences such as workations and wellness trips for remote professionals.

Olim coaxes visitors out of the expat bubble by offering them a chance to truly immerse themselves in Portuguese culture. He is passionate about giving visibility to local artisans. For instance,

he arranges winery visits followed by a chef-curated meal paired with that same wine later in the evening.

While Madeira is a place to which many digital nomads keep returning, others prefer to stay on the road — including Gonçalo Hall, now a father-to-be.

“I get itchy feet if I stay too long in one place. I think I’ll always be a nomad. Even with the baby, we plan to continue travelling around the world.” 

The weekly event calendar includes anything from salsa classes to morning yoga.
Tiago Olim grew up in Madeira and now curates experiences for expats looking to immerse themselves in Portuguese culture. Calado and Gonçalves meet at Sangha, one of Funchal’s most recent co-working spaces. The duo strives to connect nomads and locals through their regular events. FINNAIR FLIES TO Madeira once a week.
48 BLUE WINGS 2023
PHOTO JULIE ATTALLAH
60 VUO TTA AURI NKOA

Sweet harmony

Simple and clean lines form the backdrop to the busy megacity of Tokyo.

Escape Tokyo 50 BLUE WINGS 2023
PHOTOS PETRI ARTTURI ASIKAINEN

The skyline of Shibuya is ever-changing, with new skyscrapers regularly appearing on the horizon. The youthful district is one of Tokyo’s most energetic areas, full of shops, restaurants, and clubs.

The Shinjuku neighbourhood boasts many of the city’s tallest buildings. Known for its office blocks and large hotels, it is also the centre for nightlife with Japanese-style Izakaya gastropubs and karaoke bars.

> 2023 BLUE WINGS 51

The automated Yurikamome line takes passengers to the artificial island of Odaiba. When opened in 1995, the line and the island it serves were ultramodern, but in today’s cityscape they already have a retro tinge.

The busy Shibuya Crossing sets the scene for movies based in Tokyo. Besides early mornings, the crossing is packed throughout the day, earning itself the reputation of the world’s wildest intersection.

52 BLUE WINGS 2023

A Japanese onsen bath is where locals come to relax. Often simple in its architecture, the focus of these bathhouses is in the naturally hot mineral water that’s considered to have therapeutic properties.

Beyond the busy urban landscape, Tokyo also has a green side. The Kokyo Gaien National Garden lies right in front of the Imperial Palace, making it a popular spot for an afternoon stroll.

> 2023 BLUE WINGS 53

FINNAIR FLIES TO Tokyo (NRT) four times a week and to Tokyo (HND) daily.

The massive expressways that cross Tokyo were built into a city that was already full, and often needed to be constructed above channels or rivers due to lack of space. Today, you can paddle underneath many of them and get a brandnew perspective to the city.

PETRI ARTTURI
54 BLUE WINGS 2023
ASIKAINEN is a Shanghai-based photographer who lived for many years in Tokyo.

Helsingin Ambra kuuluu parhaaseen

A-energialuokkaan ja tavoittelee myös

RTS-ympäristöluokitusta, joka kertoo, että talo on rakennettu kestävyys ja ympäristövastuullisuus huomioiden.

A-energia-

elämän.

RTS-ympäristöluokitus

Helsingin Ambra

Jätkäsaari

Kerrostalo • Kerroksia 10 • Huoneita 1–5

Pinta-ala 25,5–134,5 m² • Arv. valm. 12/2024

Myyntihinta 93 280–548 480 €

Velaton hinta 233 200–1 371 200 €

Asuntomyynti 0800 162 162

RAKENTEILLA

Kestää
luokka
A energia Maalämpö Visualisointi Visualisointi
skanska.fi/ambra skanska.fi/kodit

Book nook A case for optimism

In The Book of Hope, world-famous naturalists Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams explore why we should hold on to hope in troubled times. You will get some compelling reasons throughout.

Smart stuff

Discoveries for a clever life

A

E-mountain bike

Beast of a bike

The aptly named Voima (Finnish for “power”) comes from high-end mountain bike specialists, Pole Bicycles. Made in the heart of Finland and using unique manufacturing techniques, maximum uphill and downhill fun is guaranteed with smooth suspension and a Bosch motor with an extra-fast “race motor” option.

Urban design

OLD AIRPORT REBOOT

BERLIN’S FORMER Tegel Airport is set to transform into an environmentally friendly, smart city called Berlin TXL. The five-square-kilometre development will comprise the Urban Tech Republic a techresearch hub, nature reserve, and car-free residential district called Schumacher Quartier that will provide affordable housing for more than 10,000 people.

The development will also include schools, daycare centres, shopping facilities, public spaces, and a low-energy network providing sustainable heating and cooling.

The developers, Tegel Projekt, aim for Berlin TXL to set a new standard for sustainable modern cities facing challenges such as environmental threats, diminishing resources, and housing crises. The first residences are set for completion in 2027.

Self-cleaning water bottle

Refill, refresh, repeat

Whether travelling, camping, or hiking, quench your thirst knowing that any water in the CrazyCap self-cleaning bottle has been purified and is safe to consume. With just a few taps on the lid, WAATR’s CrazyCap uses UV light technology to eliminate 99.99998 per cent of bacteria and viruses in your water and bottle.

COMPILED BY MARK FLETCHER
Purified water in seconds, without chemicals
new, sustainable
urban district built from the ground up
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES
2023 BLUE WINGS 57

Hologram tech PAX IN A BOX

TELEMEETINGS are about to go next level with Proto’s Proto M, a ground-breaking piece of “holoportation” tech that allows users to see each other as high-quality holograms. Proto envisions their technology as a new way of connecting people, whether in business meetings, telemedicine, or just much nicer cross-continental family catchups. The Proto M is a 60centimetre-tall device and the mobile counterpart to the fullsized Proto Epic.

Smart stuff

Discoveries for a clever life

REMOTE WORK TECH

These gadgets require minimal packing and are perfect for off-grid living.

Say goodbye to the spaghetti pile of charging cables with Rolling Square’s inCharge X. The robust keyring is compatible with almost all devices.

Compostable furniture that will liven up any space!

ENERGY FLOW ON THE GO

With the Xtorm SolarBooster, you can go off the beaten path while being sufficiently charged. The 21-watt foldable solar panel is suitable for all USB devices.

Sustainable design

Mushroom magnificence

Myceen creates eye-popping lampshades from mushroom mycelium. The soft and velvety lampshades are part of the B Wise range. They are sustainably created by mixing organic waste material from the timber and agricultural industry and then mixed with mycelium.

EVERYTHING IS ALL WRITE

The Freewrite Traveler is a compact modern-day typewriter, perfect for writing without any online distraction. It can be easily synched to your chosen software.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES
Abundance is not about providing everyone on this planet with a life of luxury — rather, it’s about providing all with a life of possibility.
—PETER H. DIAMANDIS
CUT SOME SLACK
58 BLUE WINGS 2023

International expertise in one point of contact

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Celebrate accomplishments Create

Second nature

Finnish artists with an affinity for the wild (p. 63)

2023 BLUE WINGS 61
PHOTO LIISA VALONEN

Wild inspiration

We meet three Finnish artists who put nature on the pedestal it deserves.

Creative corner 2023 BLUE WINGS 63
TEXT SILJA KUDEL PHOTOS LIISA VALONEN AND SUVI-TUULI KANKAANPÄÄ

Botanical borderlands

Organic, hypnotic, surreal, kaleidoscopic, hallucinatory, psychedelic. Pick any adjective, they all fit — but none on its own does justice to the riotous imagination of Kustaa Saksi

The Amsterdam-based multidisciplinary artist moves effortlessly between the world of art and design for clients such as the luxury goods company, Hermès. Both his wild creations and his artistic identity resolutely resist pigeonholing.

“I’ve always tried to avoid belonging too much to any group, as it gives me more freedom to create,” he reflects.

For the past twelve years, Saksi’s cherished creative playground has been a jacquard-woven tapestry, which is featured in his current exhibition at Helsinki’s Design Museum, In the Borderlands

The title is fitting for an “in-between” artist who wishes to “take audiences on a journey through transitional, eerie spaces that emerge between the imagined and the real, sleep and wakefulness, madness and sanity.”

Saksi’s exuberant tapestries fill the walls of the Design Museum with swarming botanical shapes suggestive of extra-terrestrial flora and fauna. He sees all his art as being “somehow inspired by organic forms found in nature, whether fractals — from cosmic to microscopic scale — or a tree branch lying in the street.”

While the organic world is Saksi’s unfailing muse, a different freak of nature lends his work its psychedelic quality. The trippy geometrical patterns in his tapestries are inspired by the visual hallucinations he experiences during migraine attacks, which he marvels at with curiosity: “I’m intrigued by the human brain and its capacity to process sensory information unexpectedly.”

Saksi’s art is unapologetically ornate and colour-drenched, defying the low-key aesthetic of traditional Finnish design. But after living abroad for nearly two decades, he sees himself as being “more Finnish than ever — partly for nostalgic reasons.”

“I grew up in Kouvola in south-eastern Finland, and the forests of my childhood are still a big part of my inspiration. My family also had a cabin by the sea near Hamina, and the landscapes of the archipelago profoundly influenced my visual thinking,” he shares.

The phantasmagorical worlds conjured by Saksi might lead audiences to assume that he leads a lifestyle to rival the wildest bohemian, but the artist describes his daily routine as a strictly structured logistical exercise.

“I take my son to school by bike, work at my studio or the weavery, and then transport him to his activities. But every minute, I’m always sketching in my head.”

In the Borderlands, Helsinki Design Museum, May 5 – October 15

The artist describes his weavings as “action paintings with warp and weft.” Saksi has invented his own experimental jacquard weaving technique. He combines natural fibres with unusual materials such as rubber and metal.
>
The organic world is Kustaa Saksi’s unfailing muse.
64 BLUE WINGS 2023

“I used to live in Paris for several years, but Amsterdam attracted me with its creative atmosphere,” says Saksi.

2023 BLUE WINGS 65

Helsinki-based Matias Karsikas dreams of setting up a ceramics residency “somewhere beautiful in the countryside.”

66 BLUE WINGS 2023

Organic alchemy

Exotic plumage, glistening minerals, enoki mushrooms, clusters of slime mould, textures of moss, and delicate floral anatomies are among the myriad nature associations evoked by the intricate art of Matias Karsikas

Combining glass, glazed clay, and untreated wood, his sculptures are botanical, zoological, and mineralogical all at once, as suggested by their titles: Volcanic Forest, Sapphire Moss, Fungus Platinum, and Peatland Emerald “Symbiotic” aptly describes the seamless way he interweaves materials and shapes into something one might expect to find on the pages of an otherworldly biology textbook.

But ironically enough for an artist often defined as biophilic, creative inspiration usually comes from outside the organic world, from textiles, literature, music, or Hayao Miyazaki’s animations. Usually, his process begins by “listening” to the material.

“Clay and glass are truly magical materials with many faces. They keep surprising me again and again,” he says.

Karsikas theorises that his art looks organic because his creative method mimics nature’s own processes — glazes enliven clay with painterly patterns just as frost transforms foliage, and molten

glass behaves unpredictably just like cascading water or lava.

“I’m fascinated by glazes and their reactions in the kiln. I’ve invented my own tricks for evoking organic surfaces such as moss, lichen, and mould on decaying tree trunks. My interest in nature is abstract — I’m fascinated by textures. I like to zoom in and study them up close,” he describes.

The artist’s love of technical challenges spurred him to recently begin shaping his sculptures around pieces of natural wood — an experiment he drolly describes as “bordering on tackiness.”

“Building up the sculptures is a numbingly slow process that requires extreme precision, but the clay and glass create a thrilling tension with the untreated wood. I think I’ve got it working,” he says.

Karsikas enjoys pushing the limits of his materials so that his sculptures end up straddling a borderland somewhere between the organic and artificial worlds.

“Someone in Paris once asked me if I get inspired in cities, because my art is so ‘nature-themed.’ I don’t see ‘nature’ as something that exists only in forests. When you step outside in a city, you see the sun shining, ponds after the rain, and railings covered with patches of moss. Nature is immediately present everywhere.”

>
“I’m fascinated by textures. I like to zoom in and study them up close.”
This textile-inspired sculpture is aptly titled Kudelma, meaning “tapestry.” Päivänsäde is a fanciful fusion of natural wood and hot-worked glass.
2023 BLUE WINGS 67
Le Fleur Éternelle is so named because ceramic petals never perish.

Extinctional roar

If you happen to walk past Helsinki’s Museum of Natural History, look up at the balcony. A hulking figure is seated there, waving at you. The figure is “Urho,” an uncannily life-like brown bear sculpted by

Weighing 600 kilogrammes and towering three metres tall, Urho is the largest creature in Zweygberg’s diverse collection of sculpted beasts. From afar, you would never guess that the massive ursine is made entirely of galvanised chicken wire, lending the sculpture a ghostly aura.

“I start with the eyes and work my way outwards, slowly building up the anatomy layer by layer. The technique is great for capturing nuances of musculature, but it’s very timeconsuming. It took me eight months to finish Urho,” she says.

Being invited to create sculptures for the Museum of Natural History was a privilege for Zweygberg, whose fascination with zoology began while spending hours studying its collections as a young girl.

“I was born in the city, and the museum was my bridge to nature. The zoological collections inspired me to begin sculpting fauna at the age of 12. It’s a wonderful coincidence that Urho now sits on the balcony of a place so special to me.”

Zweygberg’s wildlife-inspired sculptures pay tribute to the wonders of the animal kingdom, but they also deliver a critical commentary on ecological themes such as biodiversity loss.

Many of her recent sculptures subvert the spurious hierarchy that places humans above other organisms. By planting the head of a goat or octopus on the shoulders of a human torso, she creates surreal hybrids that confront us with our inherent animality.

“We build cities, we exploit nature, and we imagine that we are more important than our animal peers. People often forget that we are animals, too. I want to challenge the misconception that humans are separate from nature,” she says.

A call for species equality is also voiced by her sculpture of a wolf wearing the cape of Little Red Riding Hood. Why should the wolf always be cast in the villain’s role, when it is humans who inflict the cruelest violence on our planet?

In the end, Urho’s raised paw might not be a friendly wave, but a cautioning gesture. Perched on a ledge above the museum’s entrance sits a second sculpture by Zweygberg, a quizzical owl that sternly peers down at arriving visitors as if whispering: “Step inside and learn about us, but do not assume that you are wiser.” 

Opposites Attract flies on wings of painted wire. Bubo Bubo sits on a ledge outside Helsinki’s Museum of Natural History. Rino looks ready for an Extinction Rebellion protest.
68 BLUE WINGS 2023
Zweygberg’s life-like animal sculptures deliver a critical commentary on biodiversity loss.
2023 BLUE WINGS 69
It took Eliya Zweygberg eight months to sculpt “Urho,” using only wire cutters, pliers, and a hammer.

Maailman parhaana palkittu

– nämä ominaisuudet tekevät IONIQ 6:sta ainutlaatuisen

Hyundai IONIQ 6

kätkee sisälleen

joukon ominaisuuksia, jotka ovat harvinaisia jopa kalliimmissa autoluokissa.

Hyundai IONIQ 6 teki keväällä hattutempun voittamalla arvostetun World Car of the Year 2023 ­palkinnon sekä World Electric Vehicle ja World Car Design ­palkinnot.

Suomessa kaikki uudet IONIQ 6 ­mallit myydään tällä hetkellä niin sanotusti täyteen ladatulla Ultimate­varustelulla ja suurella 77 kWh:n ajoakulla.

Vakiona auto tulee ekologisimmalla

varustelulla pitäen sisällään digitaaliset sivupeilit, 18 tuuman vanteet sekä kierrätysmateriaalista valmistetun istuinverhoilun. Asiakkaan on mahdollisuus kuitenkin valita ilman lisähintaa nahkaverhoilu, 20 tuuman vanteet tai perinteiset peilit. Vaihtoehtojen välillä voi tehdä vapaasti valintoja.

Lisävarustelistalta on sen sijaan valittavissa vain lasikattoluukku.

MAINOS

5. Pysäköinti etänä auton ulkopuolelta

IONIQ 6:ssa on Hyundain uusi toisen sukupolven etäpysäköintijärjestelmä, joka aktivoidaan keskikonsolin kamerapainikkeen pitkällä painalluksella tai auton avaimesta.

Kun auto on tunnistanut vapaan pysäköintiruudun, kuljettajalta kysytään, haluaako hän olla automaattisen parkkeerauksen ajan auton sisä­ vai ulkopuolella. Toiminto toimii niin tasku­ kuin vinoparkkiin.

Vastaavasti jos auton sivuilla on niin vähän tilaa, että autoon on vaikea mennä, avaimella voi ohjata auton ulos ruudusta.

1. OTA-päivitykset

IONIQ 6 on Hyundain ensimmäinen automalli, jonka ominaisuuksia pystyy päivittämään etänä niin kutsutuilla Over­the­Air (OTA) ­päivityksillä.

OTA­päivityksiä on ollut saatavilla aiemmin navigaattorin osalta IONIQ

5:ssä, mutta IONIQ 6:ssa päivitykset

tulevat kattamaan myös auton muita toiminnallisuuksia ja sovelluksia. Suurimpana etuna on se, ettei asiakkaan

tarvitse käydä huollossa edes määräaikaishuoltojen (2 vuotta / 30 000 km) välissä saadakseen autoonsa päivityksiä.

2. 800 voltin akkujärjestelmä

Hyundai IONIQ 6:lla pääset nauttimaan nopeasti yleistyvistä huippunopeista 800 voltin latausasemista jo nyt.

Auton suurin latausteho 800 voltin latausasemalla on 240 kW, jolloin akun lataaminen 10–80 prosentin välillä kestää hyvissä olosuhteissa vain noin 18 minuuttia. IONIQ 6:ssa on myös vakiona navigointiin perustuva akuston esilämmitys, joten pidempi matkanteko on rivakkaa myös talvella.

800 voltin latausjärjestelmä on yksi niistä ominaisuuksista, jotka pitävät automallin edistyksellisenä vielä vuosikausia.

3. Digitaaliset sivupeilit

Yksi takuuvarmoista puheenaiheista ovat IONIQ 6:n digitaaliset sivupeilit.

Digitaalisten peilien kuvakulma on 11 astetta perinteisiä peilejä laajempi, ne toimivat hyvin myös hämärässä ja talvella linssit pysyvät puhtaina lämmityksen ansiosta.

Digitaaliset peilit yhdessä 360 asteen kamerajärjestelmän kanssa tarjoavat mainion näkyvyyden niin pysäköidessä kuin vaikkapa perävaunua vetäessä.

4. Huippumatala ilmanvastus

IONIQ 6 on viettänyt pitkiä päiviä tuulitunneleissa ja supertietokoneiden laskettavana. Auton streamliner­muotokieli on paitsi näyttävä, samalla huippusulavalinjainen. IONIQ 6:n ilmanvastusta kuvaava Cd­arvo on vain 0,21.

Arvo on yksi markkinoiden pienimmistä, ja takavetoinen IONIQ 6 halkookin ilmaa peräti 614 kilometrin matkalta täydellä akulla (yhdistetty WLTP).

Nelivetoisen IONIQ 6:n yhdistetty WLTP­toimintamatka on sekin 583 kilometriä. Nelivetoisen mallin yksi piilotetuista ominaisuuksista on mahdollisuus kytkeä auto takavetoiseksi tietoviihdejärjestelmän kautta.

6. Virtaa myös ulospäin

Huipputeknisen sähköauton tunnistaa paitsi nopeasta latauskyvystä, myös mahdollisuudesta ottaa virtaa autosta ulospäin. Vehicle­to­Load (V2L) ­ominaisuus tekee IONIQ 6:sta kuin suuren virtapankin, josta voi ottaa virtaa jopa 3,6 kW:n teholla.

Esimerkiksi mökillä jääkaappia ja valaistusta pystyy käyttämään auton virralla päiväkausia. V2L toimii auton takapenkkien jalkatilaan sijoitetusta pistorasiasta tai auton ulkopuolella latausporttiin liitettävän adapterin kautta. Ajoneuvon V2L­asetuksista voi määritellä rajan, jonka alle akun varausta ei päästetä. Näin akkua ei voi vahingossa käyttää tyhjäksi asti.

Lue autosta lisää: hyundai.fi/ioniq-6

Time flies

Eighties power dressing

POPS OF RED and green enlivened the classic dark blue “power suit” designed by Matti Seppänen in 1986. The summer version by Tuula Korkama was nicknamed “the epilepsy suit” on account of its busy stripes, which often caused Finnair crews to be mistaken for British or American airlines.

Formal forties

THE FIRST crew uniform was launched in 1947 when the airline was still called Aero. The tailored blue blazers featured gold lion buttons resembling those on an army general’s uniform, with hand-stitched star patterns on the cuffs. The military look exuded an air of respectability and professionalism.

5 RUNWAY RETRO

Join

Space-age sixties

THE CONQUEST of space was a theme that seeped into Swinging Sixties fashion. Inspired by the first moon landing, this endearingly retro-futuristic uniform designed by Kari Lepistö had its debut in 1969, the year that Finnair began flying to the United States. The space-age look was completed by a metallic blouse, high bouffant hair, and a silver-grey mink cap in winter.

us on a journey of fashion archaeology as we look back on eight decades of iconic Finnair crew looks.
72 BLUE WINGS 2023
FAMILIAR FACE? TV announcer and singer Arja Tuomarila was also a cabin attendant from 1964 to 2008. Finnair fashion

SCI-FI SPARKLE

Modelling the “tin blouse” is Miss Finland 1961, Ritva Wächter, who was a Finnair flight attendant for 46 years.

Spot the catwalk

An exhibition chronicling the history of Finnair cabin crew uniforms will be on show near Gate 29 at Helsinki Airport from early June until late November 2023.

Sensible seventies

FINNAIR RETURNED to a more conservative look in 1975 with this ensemble in beige gabardine, which could also be worn with a forest-green shirt. The practical pleated skirt was accessorised with low heels, a helmetshaped cap, and a dark brown trench coat. The beige-brown colour scheme expressed dependability.

Millennial magic

THE CURRENT uniforms dating from 2011 are designed by Ritva-Liisa Pohjalainen of Ril’s brand fame. Pairing cherry blossom white and midnight blue, the suit always looks fresh thanks to its dirt-repelling nanotech wool blend. The silhouette takes its cue from the “F” emblem, creating a fresh look that resonates attractively with Finnair’s brand identity.

2023 BLUE WINGS 73
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Pearls of Japanese wisdom

If you have ever visited Japan, you have probably experienced omoiyari without realising it. Translated as “compassion,” it underpins every aspect of daily life. In simple terms, it means acting in a way that anticipates the needs and desires of others.

For instance, in planning my forthcoming multicultural wedding, I strive to visualise the event from the perspective of my guests. How comfortable is the seating? How can I best explain that the ceremonial breaking of the sake barrel symbolises auspicious new beginnings?

Omoiyari applies not only to people, but also to objects and nature. An attitude of reverence pervades Japanese art, literature, architecture, and design, as well as traditions such as flower arranging and the Japanese tea ceremony, chado. The precise, methodical movements, although simple, take years of dedicated practice – here the concept of omoiyari truly comes to life.

At the heart of omoiyari lies the belief that demonstrating empathy towards others is crucial for a balanced, harmonious existence.

A similar idea of thoughtful compassion is encapsulated in the Japanese term mottainai, which expresses a sense of regret over waste.

If you heap too much food on your plate and cannot finish, this would be an instance of mottainai. Or when you finally recycle the dress that you impulsively bought but never wore, you might do so with a sense of mottainai –a feeling of regret linked to its unmet potential.

Mottainai encourages people to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and to extend the life of objects. Perhaps the most striking visual representation of this philosophy is the art of kintsugi –repairing broken ceramicware with gold. In the Japanese tea ceremony, teacups with imperfections of this kind are regarded as more beautiful and unique. The same principle is exemplified by sakiori, fabric made of shredded kimonos and other recycled materials.

These simple Japanese life philosophies can be incredibly grounding. When we act with more tenderness towards others, ourselves, and our environment, we are rewarded tenfold. How can we show more respect and gratitude towards ourselves and others? What can be recycled or reused –or even given new life? Adapting the adage “charity begins at home,” I would argue that the same is true of compassion, too, whether in Japan or anywhere else in the world. 

Conversation
Guest writer Erin Niimi Longhurst
If the Danes have hygge, and the Swedes have lagom, the Japanese have their very own recipe for happiness: omoiyari.
2023 BLUE WINGS 75
ERIN
NIIMI LONGHURST is the British-Japanese author of Japonisme (2018), and Omoiyari (2020), which look at links between culture and wellbeing.
“Mottainai encourages people to reduce, reuse, and recycle.”

THE BEST OF BUBBLES

www.bernard-massard.lu astrawines.fi | Drink in moderation

Art of noticing

REIMAGINING TOMORROW

PRAISED BY Time Out as “Europe’s coolest new arts festival,” Helsinki Biennial returns with its second edition this summer. Spreading across Vallisaari Island and other city venues, the show brings together 31 artists exploring the theme of “new directions.”

Visitors can expect to encounter anything from otherworldly shapes attached to trees and rocks to biosphere islands floating in the sky.

“We want to take audiences on a journey to experience the world through the ‘art of noticing’ small and invisible details, inviting them to imagine speculative new worlds,” says head curator Joasia Krysa

June 12 – September 17 helsinkibiennaali.fi/en

Showroom

Celebrating creative outcomes

Turn

3X

RELOVABLE

Three fresh upcycling brands to put on your radar.

WARM, FUZZY VIBE

Jouten transforms repurposed hotel towels into cosy apparel and accessories. jouten.fi

FEATHER-LIGHT

FOOTPRINT

Walk on air in ultracomfy Hukkasiini® leather moccasins hand-made from upholstery scraps. hukkasiini.fi

LGBT + pride

Tom’s homecoming

Tom of Finland’s iconic images of proud gay men were revolutionary at a time when homosexuality was still a crime. Marking the 50th anniversary of the artist’s first exhibition, Kiasma presents Bold Journey, the most extensive Tom of Finland exhibition ever seen in the artist’s homeland. “The show offers a unique opportunity to engage with such a comprehensive body of his work,” says curator João Laia Kiasma, April 28 – October 29

RONALD REVISITED

Used McDonald’s uniforms find a new life as intriguing workwear designed by rising label VAIN. jimivain.com

PHOTOS
OF THE COMPANIES,
& TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION
COURTESY
KEIKEN,
“Happy to be gay” is the message imparted by Tom’s muscly hunks.
the page to read our Q&A with
2023 BLUE WINGS 77
artist collective Keiken.

MAIJA PUOSKARI

Hiippa lighting is inspired by the translucent, bell-shaped caps of the Mycena genus. Price on reques.

Showroom

Celebrating creative outcomes

Of moss and mushrooms

The shape is inspired by mushroom caps.

MELISSA SAMMALVAARA

Drape your wall in mossy greenery with a handmade Meriheinä rya rug. Lokal, €900

When it comes to pulling off a forest-fresh look, Mother Nature is the one to mimic.

ALPO AHOKAS

Every funky fungophile needs a Mushroom basket handmade from Finnish pine splint. Lokal, €35.

Q&A

TEST-DRIVING THE FUTURE

KAAVI PORCINI

Add an umami bomb to whatever you’re cooking with handpicked dried porcini from Anton & Anton, €10.60

KIM SIMONSSON Nylon “moss” adds a dystopian skin to this mysterious forest-dweller. Galerie Forsblom, price on reques.

Merging the physical and the digital, the Keiken world-building collective dreams up an inclusive Protopia at Helsinki Biennial.

WHY DO YOU WORK COLLECTIVELY? There’s nothing more rewarding than having your voice heard in a shared, safe space.

WHAT IS YOUR ART ALL ABOUT? It’s about futurebuilding a Protopia that strives to be better, but not perfect.

WHAT WILL KEIKEN BRING TO THE BIENNIAL? A sound piece, an online experience, and a spirit house for angels.

Such houses are found in Asia. Ours is a portal to a speculative world. It is located on Vallisaari isthmus at the end of a threekilometre trail, by which time visitors should feel grounded and ready to enter a new reality.

WHY DO YOU WORK DIGITALLY? Our subject is the future, and technology is a part of that. We also want to be accessible. Children are immediately drawn to the gaming elements.

Tanya Cruz, Hana Omori and Isabel Ramos are Keiken. MADE BY CHOICE Sieni (Finnish for “mushroom”) was created in collaboration with Michael Yarinsky. €2,190
PHOTOS CALLUM LEO HUGHES & COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES 78 BLUE WINGS 2023

LIQUORICE IN THE WORLD COMES FROM FINLAND

Kouvolan Lakritsi has been selected by the international Food & Drink Awards as the world’s best liquorice manufacturer for the third time in a row. The flavour of Kouvolan Lakritsi is born out of the traditional production method, the right people, a polished recipe, armfuls of love and a supply chain that guarantees the freshness of every liquorice bite.

This is what all liquorice should taste like.

THE
kouvolanlakritsi.fi @kouvolanlakritsi

PHOTO FINNAIR

Fly

The world of Finnair

Inspiring journeys

The world is your playground with Finnair’s extensive network 2023 BLUE WINGS 81
Discover the US and Asia in elevated comfort Our Business Class has been designed to maximise your travel comfort and respect your privacy. Welcome on board Finnair. finnair.com

World of Finnair

MOOMINOUS MAKEOVER

FINLAND’S MUCH-LOVED storybook friends The Moomins are back on board. As Finnair celebrates its 100th birthday this year, two of the most recognisable Finnish characters of all time Moomintroll and Snorkmaiden can now be spotted sharing a hug on the bodies of two A350 aircraft.

The Moomin aircraft will fly long-haul routes throughout 2023 to Finnair destinations such as Dallas, Tokyo, and Bangkok.

The original Moomin books were written and illustrated between 1945 and 1980 by Finnish author and artist Tove Jansson.

100+ YEARS AND COUNTING

1923 Finnair, known as Aero, is founded

TOP 3 CITYSCAPES

Discover the best cosmopolitan holiday destinations at finnair.com

PARIS. From museums and monuments to fashion and culinary delights, Paris is always a good idea.

1969

1968

Finnair reveals its new logo and name change

First Finnair transatlantic flight to New York City

2015

Arrival of Airbus A350

2021

First commercial airliner recycled in Finland

2022 Cabin update for long-haul fleet introduced

COPENHAGEN. Hygge awaits. Copenhagen is brimming with restaurants, cafés, and gardens in which to experience the lifestyle.

never sleeps with its eclectic energy. You will never forget the magic of this vibrant city.

2023

Finnair celebrates 100 years!

2045 Commitment reached as carbonneutral airline

2023 BLUE WINGS 83
Highlights
NEW YORK. The Big Apple Centennial celebration The beloved Finnish Moomins share a hug!

ME TEEMME KOTEJA - MUUTTOVALMIINA TOIVEITTESI MUKAAN

AUMA 133B VILLINKI 124B OPTIMI 76 3h + k alk. 145 000 € MUSTA 154 HARMAJA 135 LATO 123
Loviisan asuntomessuilla
Tervetuloa!
Kannustalon MAININKI
7.7.-6.8.2023.
KOTIMATKA
Lue lisää muuttovalmistoimituksista kannustalo.fi
-PARAS MATKA

Coordinates

A place to be

S 33° 55’54.9”

E 18° 24’41.9”

Cape Town’s Pink Lady

OLD-WORLD CHARM meets cool urban edge at Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, or Mount Nellie, as they call it. This iconic hotel in the heart of Cape Town has hosted authors and musicians alike and is located in the shadow of Table Mountain.

Room 411 offers unsurpassed views of this prominent landmark, especially at dawn when the shadows and clouds are dancing revealing one of Mother Nature’s must-see miracles.

You can reach Cape Town (CPT) by connecting with Qatar Airways in Doha.

PHOTO ALESSANDRO CAPOCCIA
2023 BLUE WINGS 85

Why we fly

As Finnair marks its 100th anniversary, we share stories from five of our celebrated international travellers.

TEXT KATJA PANTZAR

PHOTO FINNAIR
86 BLUE WINGS 2023 Globetrotters Frequent flyers

Flights of love

WHEN Joey Bayer moved from New York to Helsinki for love, it opened up a whole new avenue of travel for the hospitality expert who has held prestigious posts including director of special events at Aquavit, New York’s premier two Michelin-starred Nordic restaurant.

“I relocated to Finland in 2020 to be with my husband. Moving to Europe has made it much easier to travel to our favourite destinations in Spain, Germany, and other Nordic countries,” says Bayer.

Born in the Bronx, Bayer grew up in New York City, with a several-year stint in Florida where he started his theatrical career as a Disney World character actor before later moving back to NYC.

Bayer, currently the community manager at Epicenter, a house of innovation in Helsinki that facilitates a safe space for people to come together, network, and grow the ecosystem of entrepreneurs, travels for both work and leisure.

“We fly exclusively with Finnair, which is such a quality airline. We recently tried premium economy and it was so good I don’t think we can go back to any other travel class,” says Bayer.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE through travel is a constant theme for Mirkku Kullberg, a design executive who has held directorial posts at leading companies including Nanso, Artek, and the Kämp Group.

“Flying is very important to me as I work with international companies. It’s vital to meet people in person and share moments together,” says Kullberg.

She currently heads the Paimio Foundation Sanitorium with the ambitious goal of turning the international landmark in south-western Finland created by the legendary designer and architect duo Alvar and Aino Aalto into a Nordic Davos.

“We want to make Paimio a place where people come together from around the world to exchange ideas, create positive change, and recharge their wellbeing,” says Kullberg, whose personal top destinations include London, New York, Paris, and Berlin, where she shares a home with her husband, photographer Ola Kolehmainen

As a frequent flyer, Kullberg finds air time easy: “I can work, rest, read, and watch movies. And I know that Finnair will always safely take me home.”

>
“It’s vital to meet people in person and share moments together.”
The cultural connoisseur
2023 BLUE WINGS 87
The visionary leader Designing a better world

Finland’s Rihanna

SINGER Keira Lundström was just 17 years old when she made it to the Voice of Finland contest finals and wowed audiences with her version of BritishAlbanian popstar Dua Lipa’s “Break My Heart.”

By 2023, Lundström was the youngest finalist on the shortlist to represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest. Her catchy, cosmopolitan “No Business on the Dancefloor” was created by a topflight team of talent including visionary Teemu Brunila whose credits include penning songs for superstar Kylie Minogue

“My dream is to have an international music career,” says Lundström, 18, who is in the final years of secondary school in Kauniainen, in the Greater Metropolitan Helsinki area.

“Travel is a way to make that happen as I learn so much about other people and cultures,” says Lundström. She has been flying long-haul to visit relatives in Indonesia and Australia with her family since she was a young child.

“One of my most memorable travel moments was ringing in the new year watching the fireworks display in Sydney Harbour,” says Lundström of the iconic event broadcast around the world.

Movers and shakers

The globetrotter

“TRAVELLING IS a key part of my identity,” says professor Alexander Stubb, the former prime minister of Finland, who has held numerous leading positions in European politics, and was one of Blue Wings magazine’s longestrunning columnists.

“My first flight was from Helsinki to Nice, France, when I was a baby in 1968. Since then, I’ve visited about 120 different countries,” he says.

Finnair is part of the Finnish national identity according to Stubb, whose current directorial posting is at the European University Institute in Firenze, Italy.

“We are an island and Finnair has been our connection to the rest of the world for a century. It’s one of the rare national airlines that has been able to continually renew and reinvent itself successfully — even during challenging times such as war,” he says. “We want to be unique, to have an airline of independence, especially given our history with Russia.”

Stubb, who is also a European triathlon championship title holder in his age group, says, “I always feel welcome when I step onboard a Finnair flight.”

Journeys of style

The French-Finnish connection

“FLYING NURTURES the creative process,” says Bruno Beaugrand, designer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of award-winning Finnish bag and accessory brand Lumi.

Based in Helsinki, Beaugrand originally hails from France, where his family has been making Champagne for several generations.

When Beaugrand was working as the artistic director of Tiffany Watches in New York, he met Sanna Kantola, then a bag designer for Ralph Lauren; together the duo founded Lumi in 2000. Lumi, which means “snow” in Finnish, has long been on the leading edge of style and sustainability. Recently, the brand introduced a range of urban bags produced in Portugal, Spain, and Italy and an ultra-lightweight line made entirely of recycled materials created in China. For Beaugrand, the international fashion industry schedule drives the majority of his flight plans to regular destinations such as New York City, Paris, Copenhagen, Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo.

“Travel is social interaction. Meeting face-to-face is essential for both business and creative inspiration,” says Beaugrand. 

“Flying nurtures the creative process.”
Future frequent flyer
READ THE longer stories on finnair.com/bluewings 88 BLUE WINGS 2023
We have brought people together for 100 years and we will continue to do so in the future.
Explore together
finnair.com/finnair100

Sidesteps

Helsinki Airport

When its first flight arrived in 1952 carrying athletes for the Olympics, Helsinki Airport consisted of one runway and a modest wooden barrack. Today, the airport is a modern travel hub.

AIRPORT OF TOMORROW

Helsinki Airport is a gleaming, modern, carbon net zero mini-city, welcoming and inspiring 30 million passengers annually.

Helsinki Airport’s dynamic tenyear plan reaches its completion this year. Looking further ahead, the plan is guided by a balanced combination of safe, comfortable ambience for people and efficient, sustainable processes — and the right premises to ensure both.

Passengers are directed through unified, brightly-lit terminal facilities with ample and coordinated arrival and departure spaces, providing especially fast and easy links to and from the railway station, bus station, taxi rank, and car and cycle parks.

TEXT TIM BIRD
90 BLUE WINGS 2023

CONTINUOUSLY ADAPTING

AN AIRPORT HANDLES all kinds of customers from all sorts of different cultures, including groups, families, single passengers, and couples.

“Passenger needs and behaviour are always changing,” says senior vice president, Helsinki Airport director, Ulla Lettijeff. “We have to take account of how service levels will evolve in the future.”

The Maja Living Room in the nonSchengen area, a calm space for interdenominational prayer or quiet meditation, is an example of how this sensitivity is realised. In terms of eliminating preflight stress, the customer experience is hugely improved by 3D scanners at security control: passengers don’t need to unpack liquids and electronic devices from their cabin luggage, although some bags might be inspected after scanning.

CALLING CARD FOR FINLAND

“FOR MANY PEOPLE, Helsinki Airport is their first and possibly only impression of Finland,” says Henri Hansson, senior vice president, safety, security & sustainability, Finavia.

State-of-the-art, advanced and fast check-in, baggage drop, security, and baggage collection processes positively contribute to the upbeat impression. Efficient processes at every stage and a clean, stylish environment convey a pleasant ambience that reflects positively on Finland as the host country.

Predominantly wood-based — and very Finnish — design features, such as the elegant and award-winning entrance canopy and departure hall ceiling, as well as the Aukio skylight in the nonSchengen area, create a sense of natureinfused style, space, and calm.

>
The Maja Living Room is a perfect place to relax and unplug. PHOTOS FINNAIR, FINAVIA, & TIM BIRD
2023 BLUE WINGS 91

READY FOR TAKE-OFF

EARTH FIRST

AS WELL AS ahead-of-the-game technology, such as the new X-ray screening system that reduces stress and speeds up the departure security process, many of the airport’s unique features are related to environmental considerations.

An underground wetland — a sealed, gravel-filled basin — serves as a filter for storm water, for example. Solar panels for on-site power cover the south-facing walls of one car park, in which there are also hundreds of charging points for electric vehicles. Energy efficiency is taken into account with terminal lighting and heat efficient windows.

The Relove shop for used items is the first for any airport.

FOLLOWING THE PATH TO ZERO CARBON

Finavia’s current climate programme was launched in 2008, and Helsinki Airport reached its carbon-neutral target in 2019. The airport will be carbon net zero in 2024.

In the future, all airports may be as advanced and well-equipped as this. Meanwhile, Helsinki Airport continues to lead the pack into and beyond a Golden Age of airports, where stress is minimised and the pleasure of air travel guaranteed. 

Passengers can subscribe to the digital “MyFlight” service, providing a wide range of information about the many and various services available to them at different stages of their journey through the airport to or from their flight.

A THRIVING WORKPLACE Helsinki Airport is a place of work for more than 15,000 people with diverse expertise. SMOOTH OPERATOR
PHOTOS FINNAIR, & RELOVE 92 BLUE WINGS 2023
www.taksihelsinki.fi Have a look and download for free: Book your taxi faster and easier! Call charge 2,90 € + 0,25 €/10 s + lnc/mcc

Families in the air

The family business

No, we’re not talking about the one run by Tony Soprano. Meet four families whose work and lives revolve around all things aviation.

Air traffic

“I GREW UP on a farm on a small island in south-eastern Finland called Partalansaari. My brother and I loved planes and whenever we heard one flying over, we would run outside and try to see where it was going. I knew as a child that my dream was to fly planes. I’ve been flying them since 1989, which is the same year my daughter Maiju was born.

She’s grown now and works as a gate agent for Finnair. She used to play ‘airport’ as a child, ticketing and boarding her friends into the local stable and making gate announcements. So aviation was a calling for her, too. For us, Finnair is a family affair. I met my wife and Maiju’s stepmother, Maria, 17 years ago when she was a Finnair cabin crew member. We kept running into each other and it was like ‘Oh, hello, it’s you again!’ I still love planes and flying just as much as I did growing up. Maybe there is a kid looking up at one of the planes I fly and dreaming of their own future.”

Like father, like son

”WHEN WE WERE small, my big brother and I used to tag along with my father to work. He’s an aircraft mechanic who’s worked as an operational duty manager at Finnair Technical Services since 2012. But back in the late 1990s, he did a lot of filling in for local mechanics at other airports around Finland.

I remember thinking about how big the planes looked and how cool it was to get to go into the cockpit. And I remember looking up at my dad and thinking ‘Wow, he knows how to fix planes, he must know everything!’ I wanted to be like him when I grew up. And now I feel like I’m trying to really live up to that.

Today, we’re both licensed aircraft engineers working in hangar 7 at Helsinki Airport. I haven’t told my dad this yet, but I’ve been thinking about learning to pilot sailplanes. I’ve always been interested in flying. But, like my dad, I’ve always loved working with my hands, so I knew I’d be a better — and happier — mechanic than a pilot.”

at Finnair Maiju at People experience manager at Finnair Jesse Pääkkö Licensed aircraft engineer at Finnair Jouni Pääkkö Operational duty manager at Finnair Pääkkö TEXT LISSU MOULTON PHOTOS SATU KEMPPAINEN
94 BLUE WINGS 2023

Born to fly

“MY PARENTS MET in the late 1950s at Helsinki Airport when my dad was an air traffic controller and my mum was an airport hostess. He went on to become a commercial pilot and she became a flight attendant.

I was 16 when I got my first summer job in Finnair’s technical department and I spent the next 27 years working in a number of positions. The most fun job was working on weight and balance for departing flights. For the past 12 years, I’ve been at Finavia, where my current job is to get airlines to fly more or new airlines to start operating in Finland.

My mum is retired now, but I remember one time when I was flying from Amsterdam to Helsinki and my mum was the purser on the flight — just by chance. And that happened again on a flight to Oulu. My son was very young at the time and when she did the in-flight announcements, my son yelled: ‘Hey, that’s my Grandma!’”

Two journeys, one destination

“JUUSO AND I were recruited in 2016, in the same order we were born. His name was right after mine on the list. Our paths were really identical until we finished our military training. I went to the Finnish Aviation Academy first and Juuso went off to Australia to surf. When he got back he was working at a warehouse next to Helsinki Airport and he watched me land a plane there. He said he knew right then he would become a pilot, too. We’ve only flown together once at Finnair, between Helsinki and Bangkok. Before takeoff, the captain, who had trained both of us, said “Ok guys, I’m not going to be able to tell you apart, so no tricks today.” It felt like the different paths we’d taken came together. One time I was flying to Helsinki from Lisbon and Juuso was doing a late-night flight to Singapore. Some of the passengers from my flight continued onto Juuso’s flight. I’m sure a few of them did a double-take when they saw him.”

Jesse
READ THE longer stories on finnair.com/bluewings
Pilots at Finnair
2023 BLUE WINGS 95

World of Finnair

Summer 2023 destinations

Kittilä Ivalo Bodø

Venice Milan Verona Ljubljana Zagreb

Split Dubrovnik

Santorini Rhodes

Antalya Gazipasa Larnaca

96 BLUE WINGS 2023
Delhi
Kong Mumbai Osaka Seoul Shanghai Singapore Tokyo
Hong
Doha Bangkok Tel Aviv Helsinki Tallinn Stockholm
Visby Riga Turku Mariehamn Tampere Jyväskylä Joensuu Kuopio Kajaani Vaasa Kokkola Oulu
Kemi-Tornio Kuusamo Rovaniemi
Dublin
London
Copenhagen
Hamburg Amsterdam Brussels
Berlin Frankfurt Paris
Munich Vienna Prague Budapest Krakow Warsaw Vilnius Geneva Barcelona
Madrid Lisbon
Málaga
Nice
Reykjavik Oslo Bergen Edinburgh
Manchester
Gothenburg
Billund
Dusseldorf
Zürich
Alicante
Funchal
Palma de Mallorca
Bologna Rome Naples Heraklion Chania
Seattle Los Angeles Dallas New York Chicago
INFO@PRINCESS.FI | +358 500 667 754 | WWW.PRINCESS.FI | EXPERIENCE THE EXCEPTIONAL LUXURY CHARTER IN MALLORCA FOR CHARTER INQUIRIES : WWW.LUMI.YACHTS ”LUMI”

Krakow – Legendary Krakow is an amazing, historical city packed with enchanting architecture.

Kittilä – Finnish Lapland has always something to offer from beautiful nature to skiing, hiking and fishing.

KEEP CALM AND TRAVEL ON

Finnair passengers share their favourite getaways for your next holiday.

Hong Kong –A mesmerising mix of East and West.

Bangkok – The Asian pearl. Such a lively and beautiful city with superb people.

Nice – The capital of the French Riviera has turquoise sea, charming colourful buildings, and the best ice cream in the world.

Rome – You can always find that next monument or restaurant to discover in the Eternal city.

Los Angeles – The city of angels opens up opportunities for dreamy road trips to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, Highway 1.

Paris – The city of love with famous landmarks is simply the most beautiful city in the world.

Oslo – The Norwegian capital is one of the greenest European cities and has fascinating contemporary art scene.

98 BLUE WINGS 2023

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