Blue Wings Energise issue February 2019

Energise issue 2 / 2019

BLUE WINGS FINLAND’S

PRINT CRAZE

BEDTI M E STO RI E S

Debunking the myth of the sleepless genius TH E PE RF EC T M ATCH

How Japan fell in love with rugby

PR ET T Y I N BLUE

Dive into the surreal beauty of the Maldives

DON’T BE SHY – HELP YOURSELF TO THIS ISSUE AND SHARE IT WITH A LOVED ONE!

Editorial Welcome onboard

bluewings.finnair.com

ARJA SUOMI N EN

SVP, communications and corporate responsibility

FO KUS M E D I A F I N L A N D Managing editor Amanda Soila Art director Aino Ahtiainen Web editor Shelly Nyqvist Visual designer Sesilja Lindell Editorial assistant Aino Vähälä English editing Silja Kudel Reprographics Faktor Oy Cover Sophie Sälekari by Heli Sorjonen

Behind this issue Tim Bird, Fabian Björk, Mark Fletcher, Laura Iisalo, Silja K ­ udel, Rachel Li, Katja Pantzar, Anders Pihl, Jussi Ratilainen, Vuokko Salo, Elina Simonen, Heli Sorjonen, Wif Stenger, Andrew Taylor, and Liisa Valonen Submissions and feedback bluewings@fokusmedia.fi Blue Wings online bluewings.finnair.com issuu.com/finnair_bluewings Editorial Offices Hämeentie 153 C, 00560 Helsinki, Finland, tel. +358 40 630 8253 firstname.lastname@fokusmedia.fi Advertising Sales Jaana Lindvall-Harki tel. +358 40 582 1416 jaana.lindvall-harki@fokusmedia.fi Publisher Fokus Media Finland Printed by Punamusta, Joensuu, Finland 2018 Paper UPM Valor 61g, Cover paper Stora Enso LumiArt 200g ISSN-0358-7703

Editor-in-Chief Arja Suominen arja.suominen@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

Pushing for sustainability AT F I N NAI R , we want to be the best choice for responsible air travellers.

Responsibility is an integral part of our Nordic nature.

While growing our business, we want to make sure our actions are as s­ ustainable as possible. We strive to reduce our environmental impact as much as we can and conduct our business ethically.

As such, we recently announced Push for Change, a service where our customers can now offset the CO2 emissions of their flights by ­supporting a CO2 emission reduction project or decrease emissions by buying biofuel, which is produced from used cooking oil. Biofuel reduces CO2 emission by 60 to 80 per cent.

Clean energy company Skyenergy and green growth financing firm Nefco will be Finnair’s partners in this ­initial phase. The Push for Change service is available on the ­Finnair w ­ ebsite and customers can also use Finnair Plus ­frequent flyer points to pay for the service. You can find more information on page 92.

Change happens step by step and your choices matter.

Responsibility is part of our Nordic nature.

Wishing you a sustainable flight, Arja Suominen

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 3

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I

magine sitting in a cosy hotel room, wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe, sipping a warm beverage, and watching airplanes take off and land outside of your window. You have just indulged in a spa treatment and feel totally relaxed. After a satisfying dinner at one of the many restaurants in the complex, you drift off to sleep without a care in the world.

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Contents February

Vitamin boost in the Maldives. page 28

Dream 11

H E L S INKI

Artisan chocolate

17

P RO D U C T I N S PI RAT I O N

NYC athleisure

Rugby comes to town

19

JAPAN

PAG E 3 8

Cherry blossom forecast

13

GLO B AL P U L S E

Good life hacks

21

U P C LOS E

Nanjing hot springs

2 2 RIGA

Explorer Pata on conquering fears

Design meets bubbly

PAG E 3 4

Explore Spa retreats

2 8 MAL D I VE S

Sun, sand, and surf 3 4 PR OFI L E

PAGE 2 1

Explorer Patrick Degerman 3 8 JAPAN

Rugby fever 47 SMAR T STUFF

Clever thinking by companies 50 CONVE R SATI ON

Digital talk with Jacob Loven

Authentic Finnish chocolate. page 11

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 5

Contents February

Create

Masters of prints

54 C RE ATIV E CO R N ER

Finnish printmakers

PAG E 54

6 0 INV E STIGATIO N

Up your sleep game 64

B O O K NO O K

Winter reading 69 S H OWRO O M

Global design 77 Q &A

Meet the Bad Yogi Dream before it’s too late. page 60

Fly 80 FI NNAI R NE WS

What’s new

82 FI NNAI R SE RVI CES

Fly the short northern route 83 FI NNAI R PLUS

Frequent flyer rewards

84 SHOPPI NG

Wish list from the Finnair Shop

86 MY FI NNAI R

Passenger stories

87 SKY FOOD

Culinary options in the air

88 W E L L NE SS

Fascinated by hair

Comfortable flying

89 E NTE R TAI NME NT

PAGE 69

Stay connected

90 STAFF TI PS

High climber

91

HOL I DAY SAMPL ER

Foodie vacations

92 SUSTAI NAB I L I TY

Reduce your footprint

93 FL E E T

Sea sounds meditation. page 77

Modern fleet at your service

94 MAPS

Helsinki Airport and destination check-list

98 FI NL AND FACTS

Fascinating figures

6 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Through the Rough Seas

SPRING 2019

We have stood long enough in cold rain, to favour simple and functional design that focuses on materials respecting the harsh northern climate.

Makia was born in the harbour of Helsinki out of these principles - to stand the test of time and to accompany you for years to come.

makiaclothing.com | Flagship store: Mannerheimintie 22-24 00100 Helsinki Finland

Now in Helsinki

For men and ƒor women

For men and ƒor women

Pohjoisesplanadi 33 Pohjoisesplanadi 33 • 00100 Helskinki • www.fere.fi

PHOTO LIISA VALONEN

Dream

Keep your curiosity alive

King of champagne Design meets bubbly in Mārtiņš Pīlēns’ boutique (p. 22) FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 9

Opel

INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT

MAKE AN INSTANT IMPRESSION

Time of the new leaders Insignia – the masterpiece of a German engineering. It is the leader in its class with its unique top innovations, premium class luxury features and superb appearance. Insignia offers its driver best-in-class Intellilux LED® Matrix headlights, premium class interior with ergonomic AGR seats, comprehensive driver assistance systems, dynamic performance adaptive four-wheel driving system and a lot more… Challenge your expectations. Experience now also the power of new 200hp engines. Go for a test drive. You can find the nearest Opel showroom in Finland at www.opel.fi

Insignia Grand Sport fuel consumption combined 5,0–7,8 l/100 km; CO2 (WLTP) emissions combined 131–193 g/km. Insignia Grand Sport Enjoy 1.5 Turbo Start/Stop M6 (140 hv) total price starting from 28 817,03 € (incl. vehicle tax and shipping). Read more Opel.fi.

TEXT LAURA IISALO PHOTOS ELINA SIMONEN

Wise craft Local talents to watch

Each luxurious praline is meticulously handcrafted

by Anna Kekki.

Finding the sweet spot hip Punavuori district stands a little chocolate factory run by Anna Kekki. But unlike the neighbourhood vibe suggests, Anna doesn’t chase trends. She prefers traditional ingredients and methods she learned while working in a Belgian chocolate shop in New York to finance her psychology studies – a career path she fast abandoned to immerse herself in the art of the chocolatier.

After two years of learning the trade, Kekki went to chocolate school in France and then opened

I N H EL S I N K I ’ S

her own business in New York, which grew bigger than she had anticipated. When Kekki found out she was pregnant, she sold the company and moved back to her native Finland. She settled in but eventually the lure of chocolate was too strong to resist.

And, so, at the end of 2016 she started her current company, Annan Suklaatehdas (Anna’s Chocolate Factory). She finally feels like everything she has learned has started to pay off. “I have returned to my roots. And I

make great pralines without any superfluous tricks. For me it’s all about quality ingredients and great technique – and beauty, of course. I am an aesthete with an artist’s soul,” she says with a smile.

Kekki has opened a small shop next door to her factory selling creations she hopes will give her customers the same experience she had the first time she tasted handcrafted chocolate.

“I was completely swept away, and still am. I just get childishly excited about my profession.” 

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 11

Maahantuoja Oy Trexet Finland Ab www.newwave.fi A New Wave Group Company

Global pulse COMPILED BY KATJA PANTZAR

Ideas for good life from around the world

Helsinki’s Sofia Future Farm: a workspace with perks.

Book nook

JAPANESE ART OF GOOD LIFE

Daily wellness

CO-WORKING WITH BENEFITS F U N FAC T

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES, ISTOCK

Sofia Future Farm offers a restorative, offline break with guided naps every Friday afternoon from 1:30 to 2:00 pm.

T H E CO -WO R K I N G TR E ND shows no signs of slowing down. It’s estimated that 1.7 million people were working in 19,000 co-working spaces around the world in 2018, according to Deskmag’s “State of Coworking Spaces” survey. Now, many co-working spaces are starting to introduce wellness to their agenda on top of other perks.

In Helsinki, co-working space Sofia Future Farm embraces this direction by offering a range of wellbeing benefits for their clients such as community yoga, healthy eating, and swimming pool access to the outdoor Allas Sea Pool, which is open year-round. An on-site bistro offers healthy and wholesome lunches, while the wine bar offers a place to network. With daily, weekly, and monthly rental spots, Sofia is amenable for travellers, as well.

Kintsugi Wellness (Harper Collins)

by Candace Kumai explores the Japanese art of nourishing mind, body, and spirit through traditions and practices for cultivating inner strength and living well. It also includes practical advice and dozens of recipes to complement a healthy lifestyle.

New in town LO ND O N CO L L AG E C LU B

offers events at cafés around town, with all the supplies available for crafting an assemblage with glue and images.

ART CONNECTION Looking for design inspiration? Collaging offers a good way to relax and get the creative juices flowing.

COL L AGE C LUB HE L S IN KI’S

recently launched events are each dedicated to a cool theme like portraiture or travel.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 13

WE HAVE IT IN CHECK At Hästens, we have been crafting better sleep since 1852.

For the past 40 years, our blue-and-white check has been the hallmark of the high quality we offer. This instantly recognisable pattern acts as a guarantee that your bed is an authentic Hästens, exclusively created using premium structures and materials. You can choose your checked fabric from a range of one or two-tone colourways to suit your own style.

HÄSTENS STORE HELSINKI Mannerheimintie 8, 00100 Helsinki, Finland. Tel: +358 (0)20 780 1370

Global pulse Ideas for good life from around the world

Put your best face forward!

HEALING HOLIDAYS As spring is just around the corner, it’s time get inspired by the top spa trends from around the globe.

Nordic remedy

INNER BEAUTY PAMPE R B R EAK

a natural Finnish skincare brand that recently expanded its presence in the US market, sees beauty as a holistic process where physical wellbeing goes together with eating right, sleeping enough, and living a healthy lifestyle.

In addition to a range of serums, lotions, and creams, Supermood also offers dietary supplements and chocolate. Their Egoboost lines use ingredients including Finnish chaga, an Arctic mushroom that contains antioxidants and has been used in Finland for centuries, as a remedy for skin rejuvenation.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES, ISTOCK & UNSPLASH

SUPE R MOOD,

Life hack

Taking a long SPAcation, a holiday at a spa hotel that provides a range of daily treatments from massages to water therapy.

G R E E N THE RAPY

Forest bathing, the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, uses the healing power of the forest by going for restorative walks.

SUPERPOWER STEAM It’s well known that regular sauna sessions provide a range of wellbeing benefits from rest and relaxation to detox. Now a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that it also helps lower the risk of heart and coronary disease. Yet another reason to take on a good Finnish steam.

MUD DY B USI N ESS

Heat and mud Hammams, mud therapy, and saunas are becoming increasingly popular for their health benefits.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 15

OTA PISTEET TALTEEN, JA KOE RENTO LOMA PREMIUM ALL INCLUSIVE -RISTEILYLLÄ!

Helmikuun ajan tuplapisteet Norwegian Cruise Line -varustamon risteilyistä!

4 p/€

WWW.RISTEILYKESKUS.FI/FINNAIR-PLUS Finnair Plus -palkintopisteitä kaikista risteilyistä!

Risteilyasiantuntijamme palvelevat www.risteilykeskus.fi • myynti@risteilykeskus.fi • 020 1441 810 (ma-pe klo 9-17) • Eerikinkatu 27, Helsinki

Culture swap COMPILED BY LAURA IISALO

Destination inspiration

Fashion meets fitness 1

Stay hydrated in style!

FI NNAI R F LIES TO New York City

(JFK) daily.

Greet the streets of New York in the Big Apple’s finest athleisure gear.

3

2

4

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES

6

The clever contouring is a real leg slimmer!

5

Made by hand in Italy!

The Elan insulated bottle keeps water chilled up to 24 hours. €35 from swell.com 2 — SOFT TOUCH Warm and fluffy, the Polartec fleece is roomy enough to wear over a sweater. €145 from jcrew.com 3 — DAI LY D E FE NCE Invisible Shield sunscreen protects skin against sun and pollution. €22 from glossier.com 4 — COOL COMFOR T Avalanche Creme trainers have a chunky sole and soft appeal. €262 from koio.co 5 — S U PER JAR A spoonful of Blue Majik Coconut Butter is loaded with taste and nutrients. €32 from capbeauty.com 6 — L EG G I N G S U P Contouring Mist leggings work their magic in and out of the gym. €145 from michyny.com 1 — STY L IS H S I PPI N G

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 17

Portofino

RANSKA Nizza

ITALIA St. Margherita

Monaco Bastia Portoferraio Calvi L’lle Rousse Rooma Ajaccio Porto Vecchio Bonifacio Porto Cervo Alghero

Cannes

Coordinates PHOTO RACHEL LI

A place to be

N 40°36’27” E 140°27’52” LOCATI ON

Aomori, Japan

under a pink sky at Hirosaki Park. The sakura cherry blossoms in the city of Aomori, on the northern tip of Japan’s main island ­Honshu, bloom differently than their counterparts in the south. A special grooming technique passed down through generations allows for fuller buds and bigger clusters of blossoms, each more voluminous than the next.

PE ACE AND TRANQUI L L I TY

Rachel Li, Australian photographer from Melbourne, Victoria

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 19

Premises that inspire your people.

If you are looking for a workplace where your team can thrive, spaces that can truly make a difference to your business, Arkadia n:o 6 at the heart of Helsinki is the place for you. The building offers endless possibilities. Pleasing to the eye, the premises inspire the mind and help improve performance. Arkadia n:o 6 comprises eight vast floors, so you will have plenty of space to work and breathe. Tell us what you want and we will make it happen.

www.arkadia6.fi

Up close TEXT AND PHOTOS ANDERS PIHL

Off the beaten path

The EA Springs Resort boasts some 50 pools filled with healing thermal water.

FI NNAI R FL I E S TO Nanjing (NKG)

twice a week during the winter; Tangshan is a 20- to 30-minute taxi ride from Nanjing city centre.

NANJING

HEALING WATERS I

n the hills east of Nanjing lies Tangshan, a pretty little town famed for the extraordinary quality of its thermal waters.

Emperors and high officials dipped in the “holy soup” of Tangshan as early as 1,500 years ago, when the hot springs were already renowned for their medical properties, especially in curing skin diseases and chronic joint pain.

Many new hotels have sprung up recently, all targeted at the fast-growing mineral baths market.

A top favourite among locals is the EA Springs Resort, a vast outdoor complex with some 50 pools of 38 degrees Celsius thermal water, each with a distinct fragrant theme, ranging from

traditional mint, lemon, and coconut milk to more unconventional scents such as dark coffee and red wine.

Ron Bennett from Miami – a connoisseur of hot springs resorts in both Asia and Europe – is particularly impressed by the standard of service at the EA Springs Resort.

“Attendants serve you the right kind of tea in sync with the theme of the pool. This is a place to come for indulgence,” he says.

Perhaps the most atmospheric section is the Hot Spring Culture area. Resembling a traditional Chinese garden, the 20 small ponds are surrounded by an abundance of flowers and even a small Confucian shrine.

Though the hot springs are often regarded as a summer getaway, most of them are open year-round.

Tangshan is a popular winter destination as the chill air makes the steaming hot waters seem even more enticing. 

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 21

Soaked in luxury: architect and ­champagne connoisseur Mārtiņš Pīlēns in his Riga studio.

22 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Passion project

Bauhaus and bubbly Mārtiņš Pīlēns has two great loves: classic design and grower champagne.

The two come together in his bold boutique in the old town of Riga.

FI NNAI R FL I E S TO

Riga (RIX) three times a day.

TEXT SILJA KUDEL PHOTOS LIISA VALONEN

P

assers-by in the old town of Riga raise a curious eyebrow as Martinš , Pilens toasts his new-born fourth child. Only one drink is worthy of the occasion: champagne, and ideally an exquisite vintage, for Pilens knows his bubbly so well that he has made a sideline profession out of it.

The flamboyant Riga-based architect hosts daily champagne tastings at The Modernists, a Bauhausstyle bar that doubles as a design showroom.

Opened in June last year, the concept store stocks the largest selection of champagnes in the Baltic region along with high-end design items ranging from iconic Thonet chairs to statement pieces by emerging designers.

“Anyone is welcome to drop in for a tasting. And if you happen to like the chair you’re sitting on, you can buy it and take it home,” says Pilens, who fell in love with the “soulful functionalism” of Bauhaus, the early 20th-century German avant-garde movement, while studying architecture in Vienna.

When not indulging in bubbly, Pilens runs a design studio on the second floor directly above his champagne bar. His best-known architectural projects to date include the restoration of Riga Castle and the interior design of the Latvian president’s office.

“Design is how I make living to finance my true labour of love – teaching Latvians to drink more champagne,” he says with a soft laugh. >

Both the design gems and rare eco-vintages on sale at The ­Modernists are strictly limited edition.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 23

The champagne bar doubles as a showroom showcasing new design trends.

DEMOCRATIC DRINKING Scouting for great growers requires both a nose for quality and persistence. “I love the organic champagnes produced

by Emmanuel Brochet, who runs a family estate in the Montagne de Reims.

I tried calling him 92 times, but he never answered. In the end I travelled to France, showed up at his vineyard, and found a very humble man with his knuckles deep in the soil. We’re now good friends,” says Pilens fondly.

The menu at The Modernists is decorated with elegant portraits of the growers, each hand-drawn by Pilens’s wife, business partner, and the mother of his four children, designer Santa Pilena.

“I feel qualified to sell champagnes only if I know the growers personally. I like to share their stories,” he says.

His style of storytelling is indeed just as memorable as the bar’s immaculate surroundings: “This Larmandier-Bernier Longitude is like a polite Japanese gentleman wearing a suit and tie. But this Laurent Benard Vendages 2010 is more like a talkative American.”

Pilens describes himself as a man on a mission to democratise champagne.

“People assume it’s a very exclusive product, but most growers are openminded and down-to-earth. Champagne is a drink suitable for everyone and any occasion. I drink it five times a week and it never fails to brighten my day.” 

An outstanding bottle of bubbly costs as little as €28 in the on-site shop.

MĀR TI ŅŠ PĪ L Ē NS Architect,

designer, and ambassador of champagne who wants to bring affordable bubbly to the people.

MOTTO Drink more champagne.

Pīlēns travels to the Champagne region at least four times a year to hunt for undiscovered underdogs.

24 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

D E SI G NE R I NSPI RATI ON Le Corbusier, for keeping the picture so clear and united. And of course, Bauhaus, for the concept of the “total of work of art.” No other movement has cared more about detail. I care, too.

www.kia.fi @kiamotorsfinland

Täysin uusi Kia ProCeed

Bold Move

alk. 26.171 € tai 249 €/kk*

Bold move. Itsevarma valinta.

Täysin uusi ProCeed on premium-estetiikkaa henkivä shooting brake: farmarin ja coupén urheilullinen yhdistelmä ja rohkea jatke AutoBildin perheautovertailun voittaneen Kia Ceedin mallistolle.

Matala, voimakkaasti laskeutuva kattolinja ja näyttävä GT-line varustelu viestivät ProCeedin urheilullisesta luonteesta. Malliston lippulaivana on urheilullinen 204 hv GT. ProCeed on tyylikäs, yksilöllinen ja itsevarma. Juuri niin kuin sinäkin.

VUODEN TAKUU

*Kia ProCeed 1,0 T-GDi ISG 120hv GT-Line SB EcoDynamics alk. autoveroton hinta 22.990,48 € + arvioitu autovero 3.180,71 € + tk 600 € = kokonaishinta 26.771,19 €.

Vapaa autoetu alk. 580 €/kk, käyttöetu alk. 415 €/kk. EU-yhd. kulutus 5,1–7,1 l/100 km, CO2-päästöt 136–169 g/km. Kia-huolenpitosopimus alk. 30 €/kk (sopimusaika 36 kk, 10 tkm/ vuosi). Kia-takuu 7 vuotta tai 150 000 km, kolme ensimmäistä vuotta ilman kilometrirajaa. Kia 24h tiepalvelu vuodeksi veloituksetta.Kuvien autot erikoisvarustein.

Tilaa MyKia-uutiskirje ja varaa huolto helposti www.kia.fi.

Kertaluoton rahoitusesimerkki: Kia ProCeed Hinta 26.171,19 €, käsiraha 3.750 €, sopimusaika 60 kk, kuukausierä 249,15 €, luoton määrä yht. 22.611,19 € (sis. perustamismaksun 190 €), viimeinen suurempi erä 10.000 €. Kuukausierä sisältää koron 1,90 %, perustamismaksun 190 € ja käsittelykulun 9 €/kk. Luottokustannukset yhteensä 2.287,45 €, luoton ja luottokustannusten yhteismäärä 24.708,64 €, todellinen luottohinta 28.458,64 € ja todellinen vuosikorko 2,85 %. Edellyttää hyväksytyn luottopäätöksen ja kaskovakuutuksen.

Palvelun tuottaa Santander Consumer Finance Oy, Risto Rytin tie 33, 00570 Helsinki.

PHOTO VUOKKO SALO

Explore

Think beyond the box

Water world Life in the Maldives happens in or by the sea (p. 28) FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 27

Escape Maldives

Into the blue

The surreal beauty of the Maldives archipelago beckons honeymooners, surfers, and dreamers.

PHOTOS AND TEXT VUOKKO SALO

28 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Everything in the Maldives happens in water or right by it. A sleepy atmosphere lingers at the Ayada Maldives resort where most of the guests are couples on their honeymoon.

The best place to admire the surfers comes with a natural shade from the sun. The nearby Cokes surf spot is the best in the area and the view is always impressive.

>

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 29

Coke’s surf camp in Thulusdhoo starts them young! The island is inhabited by locals and makes for a relaxed and cost-efficient ­alternative to the resorts.

The island of ­Thulusdhoo is one of the most popular amongst backpacking surfers. Alcohol is prohibited but there’s plenty of fresh coconut water to refresh the weary surfers.

30 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Leaving nothing but footprints behind on a desert island in the Huvadhoo Atoll.

The Maldives are made up of over 1,000 islands, most of them uninhabited.

A unique way to catch the waves in the Maldives is to book a surf-safari, where surfers live on boats and take smaller charter boats to surfing spots or to desert islands.

>

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 31

TH E M AL D IV E S is a Finnair Holidays destination. Flights are operated as a codeshare service with Qatar Airways.

32 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

A day visit to the Ayada Maldives resort is a chance to soak in the luxurious atmosphere without the price tag. You can rent a bike, enjoy spa treatments, or go snorkelling.

Between voyages, Patrick Degerman has become one of Finland’s most sought-after ­speakers.

34 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Think again

LESSONS IN COURAGE Finland’s best-known explorer opens up about conquering fears and overcoming naysayers – whether in Antarctica or a corporate boardroom.

TEXT WIF STENGER PHOTO FABIAN BJÖRK

P

yourself inside a whole new ­system atrick “Pata” Degerman has and understand things. It’s much easier explored remote regions on all to just say it’s impossible, because we continents. He was the first haven’t done it this way before,” he says. to climb and name six mountains Degerman has plenty of personal in Greenland and Antarctica, where experience to reflect on. he’s also participated in “If a decision is made Helsinki University climate out of laziness, things will research. Between voyages, “If a decision definitely go wrong. I wrote he has become one of Finland’s most sought-after is made out that on my tent as a reminder when we didn’t take tools ­speakers, tackling issues of laziness, along because of weight and from sustainability to we definitely would’ve needed decision-making. things will them.”

Degerman’s expeditions definitely When considering a risky involve a ­dizzying go wrong.” venture, Degerman uses nutscomplexity of l­ogistics, and-bolts techniques. ­financing, security, “Let’s say you want to and weather c­ oncerns. climb a mountain in Antarctica. I use Convincing others to join or support ‘what-if’ lists of questions that include “impossible” ­ventures is one of his most of the possible scenarios and risks. ­biggest obstacles.

Let’s say you break your leg. What do “Usually for people who aren’t I need to do? I need to train in first aid motivated enough, it’s easier to say beforehand. We’ll need something to ‘no.’ Then you don’t have to put >

PATR I CK D EG E R MA N , 51 W HAT I D O

Explorer, author, photographer, speaker, designer W HAT I THI NK

Hope.

W HAT I ’VE L E AR NED

During crises, positivity is crucial.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 35

Uudistunut Hyundai Tucson

Tehokkaat nelivetoautomaatti erikoismallit 37 590 €

Erityisesti tehoa ja mukavuutta hakevalle – uusi Hyundai Tucsonin nelivetomalli automaattivaihteistolla – nyt talven kunniaksi erikoishintaan! Valitse bensiini tai diesel.

Tervetuloa tutustumaan ja ymmärrät, miksi Tucson on Euroopan myydyin Hyundai-malli.

Koko Hyundai-mallistoon ainutlaatuinen 7 vuoden takuu ilman kilometrirajaa.

7 vuoden takuu myönnetään 1.9.2018 jälkeen Suomessa käyttöön otettuihin uusiin vuosimallin 2019 Hyundai-autoihin. Erikoishinnoitellut Tucson-mallit: Tucson 1.6 T-GDI (177 hv) 4WD 7-DCT-automaatti Comfort Limited 37 590 € (sis. toimituskulut). EU-yhd. kulutus 7,5 l/100 km, CO2 194 g/km (uusi mittaustapa).

Tucson 1.6 CRDi (136 hv) 4WD 7-DCT-automaatti Comfort Limited 37 590 € (sis. toimituskulut). EU-yhd. kulutus 6,4 l/100 km, CO2 167 g/km (uusi mittaustapa).

Erikoishinnoiteltuja Tucson-malleja rajattu erä. Kuvan auto erikoisvarustein.

“I know where the risks lie, and I don’t want to go into these situations.”

stabilise your leg, so I need to bring a splint and so on. So we get our equipment list,” he explains.

“If we find answers to over 85 per cent of our questions, then we can go on the trip. NASA and big ­companies require something like 95 per cent ­certainty, but I’m ready to take a 15 per cent chance of not knowing.”

Trips have however been cancelled or postponed due, for instance, to a deadly plague outbreak in Madagascar or security threats in the Sahara, as well as crew members’ broken bones.

A mountain-climber since age 17, Degerman says his risk level has changed with age and experience.

“I’m definitely more cautious. For example, after crashing an aircraft in ­Antarctica, I look more c­ arefully into what kinds of planes I jump into, and what happens if we crash. I know where the risks lie, and I don’t want to go into these situations.”

Mistakes, he says, usually come from being overconfident, adding that slipping into overconfidence and routine is good to a certain point.

“But you can’t neglect what’s happening around you,” he says. “You need to be sharp at all times. We can really only concentrate on something for an average of about seven minutes in one push; then you usually start thinking about something else.” 

Degerman says his risk level has changed with age and experience.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 37

Field Trip Japan

BIG

38 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

I N JA PA N As Japan gets ready to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup, we take a closer look at what made the country turn from an underdog into a rising star in the rugby sky.

TEXT AND PHOTOS ANDREW TAYLOR

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 39

FINNAIR F L I ES TO

Fukuoka (FUK) three times a week during the summer; Osaka (KIX) one flight daily during the winter and ten flights a week during the summer.

Fukuoka’s Kusagae Young Ruggers training.

I

n 2015, the rugby world saw something unprecedented when Japan’s Brave Blossoms beat South Africa’s Springboks, one of the world’s top-ranked rugby nations 34-32 in the World Cup games in England. Considered by many to be the greatest Rugby World Cup shock ever, of David and Goliath proportions, the victory didn’t just help put Japan onto the rugby world map but also evoked a fresh interest towards the sport back home.

The victory acted as a curtain raiser and locals suddenly became interested again in a sport which has been overshadowed by baseball and more recently by football.

“When Japan beat South Africa at the 2015 World Cup in England, it had a great impact on most Japanese citizens,

40 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

even if most didn’t know much about rugby yet,” says ex-professional rugby player Yasunori Kanemura in his rugby sports bar, Third Row in Kobe. That victory came at a perfect time; Japan is hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup in September.

The man resoundingly credited with improving rugby culture is Eddie Jones, who is currently England head coach.

After coaching Suntory Sungoliath to domestic Top League victory in 2012 he was appointed head coach of Japan, with a goal to bring the team into the top 10 in world rugby. After two years Japan was number nine in the world rankings, having registered ten consecutive victories. It’s widely acknowledged that Jones worked on creating a winning mindset first, and then playing to traditional Japanese

rugby strengths – hard work and a fast and skilful approach.

“Eddie Jones definitely improved the team. Self-awareness and individual mindset are so much better now, and it results in a better playing style that we see today. Our quick tempo and running the ball are our greatest strengths, you will never be bored watching us,” explains Yasunori.

Since the 2015 victory, the team has gone from strength to strength, registering wins against tier I nations or losing narrowly and bravely. Japan is clearly benefitting from playing Super Rugby, the southern hemisphere club competition including teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina. Japan was awarded a club in the 2016 expansion, and the Tokyo-based Sunwolves have since

Masamitsu Takagi, a retired Kobe high school rugby head coach, hopes for more than a ­successful World Cup.

>

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 41

Sota Yamaguchi and his father and rugby coach Nobuyuki Yamaguchi.

42 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Fukuoka is a rugby stronghold with its youth teams regularly winning national tournaments. exceeded expectations, registering more wins and points in each season in a league considered to be the toughest in the world. The Sunwolves have strengthened their squad for 2019 and are tipped to improve again.

Though Eddie Jones left after the 2015 World Cup, Japan have continued to appoint world class coaches. Jamie Joseph is the current head coach, and a safe pair of hands, having won the Super Rugby Championship in 2015 with New Zealand’s Highlanders. He has overseen tough games against the best teams in the world, ushering in young players coming through the ranks from the Sunwolves.

YOUNG RUGGERS Rugby was introduced to Japan at the end of the Edo period when the ports opened to foreign trade, including Kobe Port, from 1858. It was a sport popular with 19th-century merchants and navy.

Kobe is renowned for adopting Western customs and blending Japanese and foreign cultures and it wasn’t long before the local Japanese people joined in the exotic new game.

The city of Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu also has a flourishing rugby culture and like Kobe, will host some of the 2019 games.

Fukuoka is a rugby stronghold, with its numerous youth teams regularly winning national tournaments and providing several members of the Japan national team,” explains Kazuhiro Shinohara of Fukuoka Rugby and the Rugby World Cup Organising Committee.

“My hope is for a successful World Cup, that grows the sport, eventually helping to lift it from a corporate sport to a community supported and funded model. This is what happened to football after the 2002 FIFA World Cup.”

Nobuyuki Yamaguchi first played rugby at high school in Fukuoka 32 years ago. Having been involved in Japan’s grassroots rugby scene since its heyday, first as a student and now as a coach to middle school team, Kusagae Young Ruggers, he has some insights on the sudden popularity of the sport.

“Rugby is probably popular here because it combines the same intense contact and respect that martial arts do.

I practiced Judo in high school, learning ukemi (how to fall without being hurt), which is helpful when I play rugby,” he explains.

Yamaguchi coaches his 15-year-old son Sota, who plays for the Kusagae Young Ruggers. “I’ve played rugby since nursery school. My favourite part of

Kazuhiro Shinohara of Fukuoka Rugby and the Rugby World Cup ­Organising ­Committee.

>

POST-GAME HIGHLIGHTS IN FUKUOKA

Kushida Shrine, Ohori Park, and Acros Step Gardens are great places to spend downtime between matches at the Hakatanomori Stadium.

In the evenings the canals are lined with Fukuoka’s famous Yatai street food stands. A must-try is the local treat of Hakata Tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen.

Another of the city’s renowned delicacies are gyozas, pan-fried dumplings filled with pork, cabbage and green onions. A perfect after-game snack or a meal.

Fukuoka will host group games involving Italy, Canada, France, USA, Ireland, and Samoa.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 43

POST-GAME HIGHLIGHTS IN KOBE

The worldfamous Kobe Wagyu marbled beef is a once-ina-lifetime experience, with a price to match.

The Nada district in Kobe is one of Japan’s major sake areas and dotted with breweries where you can sample this local drink.

The Shin-kobe ropeway takes visitors up the Rokko mountainside where you can walk through the serene herb garden.

Kobe is hosting group games involving England, USA, Scotland, Samoa, Ireland, Russia, South Africa, and Canada.

44 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

rugby is the “spirit of no side”– once the game is over there are no sides, just friends,” says Sota.

The Rugby World Cup Organising Committee and the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) want the 2019 games to leave a positive legacy for future generations and develop grassroots rugby in Japan and Asia, and so rolled out the Dream Beyond 2019 Future Plan together. Schools in the host cities are holding introduction days for children from pre-school to high school.

“We also held the first Asian Rugby Exchange Fest in Fukuoka in October 2018. The games were in the non-contact X Rugby format with around 100 under14 players from seven Asian countries and local under-14 teams from Fukuoka, Oita, and Nagasaki,” explains Kazuhiro Shinohara of Fukuoka Rugby. Having

A ceremony at Kushida Shrine in preparation for the Hakata Gion ­Yamakasa festival.

more experienced talent from a younger age will only increase the prospects of Asian rugby teams in the future.

FASCINATING THE FANS Expecting around 400,000 overseas fans from the other 19 nations competing, organisers are hoping rugby fans will venture outside of Tokyo to smaller host cities and prefectures and see what the rest of Japan has to offer.

Masamitsu Takagi, a retired Kobe high school rugby head coach of 35 years, hopes for more than a successful World Cup. “We need Japan to be successful for the sport to grow beyond the current corporate model. A successful World Cup would mean qualifying from the pool; the match against Scotland could

be the crucial one and we must prepare well for that.”

There is hope that Japan will make it out of the group stage and into the knockout stages, with recent victories against Italy and Georgia and an impressive draw away to France, another of World Rugby’s great nations.

Organisers hope that locals come to games not involving Japan. The 46,143 attendance for New Zealand’s recent victory over Australia in Yokohama is a good sign.

The pressure is on for the Brave Blossoms to qualify. With both Ireland and Scotland in Japan’s pool, Japan will realistically have to beat one of them to qualify, though this time it wouldn’t be such a shock if Japan beat a rugby giant, because Japan are now much bigger and respected in the eyes of world rugby. 

“Rugby combines the same intense contact and respect that martial arts do.”

NOB UYUKI YAMAG UC HI

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 45

Smart stuff Discoveries for a clever life

COMPILED BY MARK FLETCHER

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY These high-tech VR goggles come with their own unique attributes.

NO STR I NG S ATTAC HED

Representing superb quality as a standalone device, Oculus Go also comes with a very reasonable price tag.

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Autonomous bus trial

ALL WEATHER, WORLD FIRST Muji has unveiled the design of their autonomous shuttle bus, Gacha, in collaboration with Finnish autonomous driving company, Sensible 4. Gacha will be put through its paces in the challenging weather conditions of Finnish Lapland.

“Finland has an exceptionally

JAPANE S E B RA N D

Talk about cute and functional design!

open legal situation in terms of autonomous driving on public roads so Gacha will have relative bureaucratic freedom to move around,” says Harri Santamala, Sensible 4’s CEO. Upon successful testing, future plans are to position the bus in more urban city locations both in Finland and Japan.

CR E AM OF THE C ROP

It’s not cheap and you’ll need a powerful computer and graphics card to tether it up, but that’s because the HTC Vive Pro’s immersion quality is second to none.

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Book nook

MODERN SCI-FI Tech entrepreneur Byron Reese’s The Fourth Age leads the reader into the next pivotal point of our species where we will intertwine with AI, robotics, and IoT. The conversational text allows the reader to consider their own place in all of what is to come.

SCI - FI STYLIN ’

With its Tron-esque design, the PlayStation VR is fully compatible with the powerful but affordable PS4 console.

There’s also a vast array of specially designed games ready to go.

From €250

February 2019 BLUE WINGS 47

Smart stuff Discoveries for a clever life

VR tourism

VIRTUAL(LY) THERE Care to take a wander around Helsinki in past, present, or future? The city of Helsinki has teamed up with VR creative agency ZOAN to create an entire city to VR in high quality.

Virtual Helsinki is still in the present day but soon, past and future versions will be an option.

Sustainable lighting

NEW MOON SHIMMER The Chinese city of Chengdu is planning for a 2020 launch of an illumination satellite, or artificial moon, which will act as a substitute for its street lights.

The satellite will emit a dusk-like glow that will be up to eight times stronger than the moon.

5G could speed up the manufacturing of robots and other devices.

If you haven’t found something strange during the day, it hasn’t been much of a day.

JOHN W HE E L E R

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES

AME R I CAN PHYSI CI ST

Fast-track connection

5G FUTURE Audi and communications giant Ericsson have plans to make private wireless networks using 5G. They believe the private network will enable faster connections to manufacturing robots and other devices often compromised by existing connections like Wi-Fi or 4G.

CAR M AKE R

Smart biking

INTELLIGENT PEDALLING In an effort to make biking smarter and safer, Canadian company SmartHalo has developed a handlebar-mounted device that gives navigational assistance, fitness tracking, and protection from thieves. The stylish, robust unit pairs with the dedicated (iOS/Android) app.

Importer Oy Trexet Finland Ab• A New Wave Group Company • www.newwave.fi

Conversation Guest writer Jacob Loven

Looking glass into our digital future

W

Swede JACO B LOV E N is the creator of the Den Digitala Draken and Digitally China podcasts.

hile the rise of digital behemoths from China rarely go unnoticed nowadays, most people aren’t aware of the significance in terms of tech innovation or of the huge global implications. The global economy is more dependent than ever on technological progress and based on my study of tech phenomena over the last decade, I am fully convinced there are three main reasons for China’s meteoric rise: leapfrogging, scale, and speed.

Let’s start by looking at the concept of leapfrogging. Thanks to extremely rapid economic growth within the population, the complete lack of offline infrastructure for credit cards and shopping outlets, plus the fortuitous timing of millions of people gaining access to the internet at exactly the same time, China has been able to place itself at the very forefront in the practical application of emerging technologies. This is best illustrated by the wide usage of mobile payment solutions: Chinese companies have been able to build today’s most advanced platforms for financial technologies.

And the key to becoming world leaders in digital banking, risk assessment, and scoring models was, ironically, the hundreds of millions of consumers who were formerly underbanked or unbanked.

This leads us to the second point: the immense scale of the internet population. This year, the number of Chinese internet users is estimated to

surpass 800 million, accounting for approximately one-fifth of the world’s total internet population, and almost one-fourth of the world’s smartphones.

Thanks to the massive amounts of data this generates, China is widely considered the global leader in areas such as AI research and e-commerce.

American tech companies’ continuous attempts to gain market share in China only proves that access to Chinese user data will be vital in the upcoming digital arms race. Put bluntly, there is no better test market right now than China for new technologies and digital services in terms of quick access to savvy users.

The third point is something I dare to say is unique to China.

Thanks to this perfect storm of capital, the growing middle-class population, and the pace of technological development, a new mindset has emerged. I’m talking about China speed: the ability to move aggressively both vertically and horizontally, to disrupt yourself before your competition and to be pragmatically optimistic instead of being afraid to fail. This mindset will likely make Chinese companies extra skilful when venturing outside their home market, especially considering the winds of politically conservative attitude towards tech companies in the west.

Whether you are doing business in China or not, these three factors have created a unique looking glass that should spark the interest of anyone who wants to understand where the global digital future is heading. 

There is no better test market right now than China.

50 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

EXPLORE WINTERY FOREST IN DESIGN See it. Feel it. Sense it.

FROM HELSINKI

FROM HELSINKI

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INNOLUX

Whim is the world’s first Mobility as a Service solution. The app leads the way towards a smarter and more sustainable life without car ownership. Whim brings all means of transportation into a single service and monthly subscription. Read more at whimapp.com

Innolux brings light to the world with unique and timeless lighting design. Many of these beautiful creations are inspired by the Finnish nature and the endless play of light. Buy Innolux products online or from retailers across 20 countries. Find out more at innolux.fi/en

FROM RYMÄTTYLÄ

FROM PUDASJÄRVI

DURAT

PROFIN

Finland’s extreme conditions inspire sturdy design and respect for nature. Durat is a durable, 100% recyclable surface material containing recycled plastic, suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. Read more and buy the design at durat.com

Profin combines modern design to traditional craftsmanship. Finnish wood and the Japanese Masame cutting technique come together in their high-quality glass sliding doors, windows and doors.

Experience wood like never before at profin.fi/en

Roam with us into Finnish nature and design Finnish nature and Finnish design are inseparable. The extremes of our nature – from the nightless nights of summer to the polar nights of winter – affect everything we do and design. We grant the Design from Finland mark to Finnish design that elevates and surprises, but more importantly, feels like it’s designed for you. Continue your design journey at www.designfromfinland.com/explore

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Create

Celebrate accomplishments

Lessons of inspiration For Finland’s top printmakers, ideas come from unlikely places (p. 54) FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 53

Spot on Three acclaimed Finnish print designers share their journeys from sketchpad to catwalk.

TEXT SILJA KUDEL PHOTOS JUSSI RATILAINEN AND HELI SORJONEN

54 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Creative corner

Meaningful mistakes Printmaker Reeta Ek embraces creative disruption. in unlikely places. Reeta Ek grabs a handful of lentils and tosses them in the air, watching intently as they land in a random pattern.

She then scans the image for her idea bank. One day, with any luck, those lowly legumes might end up as an awardwinning textile print.

Chance plays a surprising role in the work of this designer who describes herself as “practical and disciplined.”

Lentil-tossing, she concedes, is a conscious form of disruptive rebellion.

“My mum is an architect and my dad is an engineer, so I grew up in a very organised home!

I’m organised too, so I try to break my own rules to conquer my fear of the blank page. I like mistakes – they keep my work fresh,” says Ek with a smile.

Surprising fusions of form and c­ olour have indeed made Ek one of Finland’s most sought-after print designers, with a ­client list including top brands Marimekko, Nanso, and Lapuan Kankurit.

I N S PI RAT I O N CA N LU R K

will play out, how the print will sit on the ­garment, and how it will interact with the fabric. What works on a tablecloth might not work on a t-shirt,” she explains.

For Ek, the process begins with feverish sketching. After dropping off her two young sons at day care, she arrives at her Helsinki studio at 9 am and initiates her unblocking ritual.

“I used to panic when faced with a deadline, but now I trust my process.

I might start by painting acrylic patterns on an overhead transparency.

Many of my sketches are little more than a spot or squiggle, but I scan each one for my archives. When the time is right, I dip into my bank,” she says.

The real “spadework” begins at the computer, where Ek spends hours mixing, matching, flipping, and enlarging. After scaling, she produces the first mock-up for the client, with whom she tweaks the final design as a team effort.

“But you mustn’t overwork it. If the spontaneity isn’t there, I sometimes go back and start all over. Not every day is a success, but there’s no such thing as a total fail. I file every sketch, because next week I might return and think ‘wow’!” >

“My sketches are little more than a spot, but I scan each one for my archives.”

T H O U G H EK M A K ES I T look effortless, designing for print is a tricky process.

“You have to understand how the seriality

Hula hula for Marimekko

Kasmir for Nanso

Aallonmurtaja for Lapuan kankurit

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 55

Style chamelion Pasi Kärkkäinen-Tunkelo rocks the catwalk with quiet grace.

PAS I KÄ R K KÄ I N EN -T U N K ELO dips a comb in black ink and begins tracing curls on a large sheet of paper in his studio above the tin roofs of Helsinki’s Design District. The glamorous movie star Marlene Dietrich herself would feel right at home lounging among the intarsia tables and T ­ iffany lamps, which look like something straight from an Art Deco stylebook.

“They’re not really ­vintage pieces – they’re my designs. I like adding a ­contemporary twist to ‘granny’ items,” he chuckles.

“Timeless” is also a ­fitting portrayal of the prints he creates for lifestyle brand Samuji. Ranging from bold, dark-toned tablecloths to feather-light pastel blouses, his work has the chameleon touch of 100 designers rolled into one.

“As I see it, I’m there to serve the clients.

We discuss what they want, and I try to hit the brief. My print isn’t the rock star – the collection is. It’s not all about me,” he says softly.

possessed, barely noticing the passage of time.

“I like to paint with random objects like a credit card, playing with different textures. I rarely draw anything figurative.

I work on paper as long as I can before turning on the computer. Vectors aren’t my thing,” he reveals.

That’s not to say he’s “soft” on the technical side. KärkkäinenTunkelo if anyone has an in-depth knowledge of the printing process.

“I learned every trick in the book about colour ­separation and print repeats ­during an internship at Marimekko. The factory floor was my real school,” he recalls.

He still retains a hands-on involvement in the post-design process. “I like to see the strike-offs and check the quality of the print. Occasionally there’s a material failure at the f­actory. With my technical background, I can often spot what went wrong.”

When asked to reveal his most valuable skill, he jokingly refers to himself as “the repeat guy,” adding “I’m fast and efficient at working with repeats. And I have no fear of trial and error.” >

“I like to paint with random objects like a credit card, playing with textures.”

T H E F I R ST C H A L L EN G E is conquering the blank page. After dropping his daughter at day care, Kärkkäinen-Tunkelo often spends the whole day sketching like a man

Geometria for Samuji

56 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Maininki for Samuji

Siipi for Nosh

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 57

58 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Runway rainbow Sophie Sälekari adds sassy Slavic hues to Kenzo’s palette. exuberant – these are epithets typically linked to the work of Sophie Sälekari, a fashion whiz kid whose precocious talent has made her one of Finland’s most internationally acclaimed print designers within a span of only three years.

After placing in the finals of the 2015 Hyères fashion competition and landing coveted positions at H&M and McQueen, she was headhunted by French luxury fashion house Kenzo, where she now works full time as a resident print designer.

She vows that her meteoric rise to the beating heart of the fashion world is the outcome of sheer hard work. “People assume I’m a wild creative genius, but I’m actually very conscientious.

I might leave the studio covered in paint, but I work systematically,” she says.

Wild experimentation usually takes a back seat to discipline in the world of haute couture – which, contrary to common misconception, is far from a solo show.

“The main challenge is making compromises and keeping everyone happy.

But I love teamwork! You come up with

B O L D, R I OTO U S , C L AS H I N G ,

unexpected ideas brainstorming with other people.”

SÄL E KAR I ’S PR OCE SS B EG I NS with research. “Last season’s theme was ­multiculturalism, so we set out by studying national dress and colours in different countries. Then, after sketching, I ­suggest a motif and technique. The team picks their favourite and we move forward. It’s really a group effort,” she describes.

Seldom leaving the office before 8 pm, Sälekari devotes long hours to checking strike-offs and working with developers. She nevertheless describes her current her work-life balance as easy-going.

“I have time for the gym and enjoy Parisian lunches with my colleagues. Obviously, I miss the complete freedom I once had, but I still do freelance projects.”

A tingly feeling of excitement still rises every time Sälekari sees one of her prints cruising down the catwalk. “It’s fun to see how the print comes alive on the garment.

But the best feeling is when you see people wearing your work on the street. Then you know you did something right!” 

“I love teamwork!

You come up with unexpected ideas brainstorming with other people.”

Photocopy roses for Supriya Lele

Mandy for friend’s wedding dress

Camo for Nanso

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 59

60 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Investigation

Chasing the dream All too many of us are skimping on sleep.

Why is shut-eye so important – and what happens when we don’t get enough?

TEXT LISSU MOULTON ILLUSTRATION MAXIM USIK

I

n bedrooms across the globe, people are tossing, turning, texting, and skimping on sleep. Tiredness is the new norm. And for many of us, a good night’s sleep is just a dream. Statistically speaking, research from World Sleep Day reveals that sleep deprivation is currently threatening the health, happiness, and productivity of up to 45 per cent of the world’s population. Sleep experts the world over agree that the world needs to wake up to the fact that we are in the midst of a global a sleep crisis.

Dr. Vicki Culpin is a Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Hult International Business School and the author of The Business of Sleep. According to her, sleep and its benefits are currently trending, and that’s a good thing, since “the impact of poor sleep is the first step to making significant changes at the individual, organisation and societal level.”

So what’s the big deal? It’s “just sleep,” right?

Not so fast. Science has linked poor sleep to all sorts of bad stuff, including a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, weight gain, low libido, mood swings, paranoia, depression, a higher risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, and cancer. Still not convinced? Well it’s not just our bodies and minds – efficiency and

productivity also suffer when we’re tired. And not surprisingly, fatigue raises the risk of traffic accidents, medical and occupational errors, and industrial disasters.

Need proof? Remember the nuclear disaster at Three Mile Island? How about Chernobyl?

The Exxon Valdez oil spill? Or the breakup of the NASA space shuttle Challenger? Do a quick Google search and you’ll find that these and many other major disasters have been directly linked to sleep deprivation. “When you’re chronically sleep deprived, your body literally takes over and ‘forces’ you to fall asleep, even when it may be highly dangerous to do so,” notes Culpin. Anyone who thinks they can “cheat the sleep system” is fooling themselves.

So what’s up with all the super-successful celebrities, world leaders, and athletes who claim to need almost no sleep – the “sleepless elite,” like Barack Obama, Martha Stewart, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump, all of whom claim to sleep only four or five hours a night?

“There’s a very powerful quote by an eminent sleep researcher who said that the number of people that need less than five hours sleep a night is so low that if it was rounded up, it would round

>

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 61

“You can’t function well if you aren’t sleeping well. Period.”

to zero,” Culpin says. The majority of research looking at the serious physical effects of chronic poor sleep often find that six hours is the critical cut-off.

As it turns out, Bill Clinton, for example, who was said to get only four to six hours while in office, later admitted that: “Most of the mistakes I made, I made when I was too tired.” Culpin isn’t surprised. “Anyone can sleep for a few hours a night, but almost no one can do that and function at their best,” she says.

Based on her extensive work with business leaders, professor Culpin notes that one big problem is that all too many of us find ourselves not only working too much but bringing our work into the bedroom: midnight email sessions propped up on pillows, Skype meetings across multiple time zones, and burning the midnight oil to prove our dedication to our careers.

How much sleep do we actually need? Culpin says that because of age, genetics, environment, and individual differences in daily physical and mental strain, there can be huge variations in ideal necessary sleep times. But the National Sleep Foundation says most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep to function optimally.

SLEEP LIKE A PRO “You can’t function well if you aren’t sleeping well. Period,” says Dr. Henri Tuomilehto, who has spent the past 15 years studying sleep. And while Tuomilehto specialises in sleep and what happens when we don’t get enough of it, according to him, “The only doctors whose patients are not affected by sleep are pathologists.”

In addition to treating “regular” sleepers, Tuomilehto has studied and coached over 1,000 of the world’s top professional athletes, including the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, Helsinki’s HJK football club, and Finnish Olympic Committee athletes, helping them to enhance their performance, one good night’s sleep at a time.

62 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Given that pro athletes literally work out for a living and are on top of taking care of their bodies, you’d think they all get stellar sleep, right? Wrong.

A 2017 study led by Tuomilehto and his team at the University of Eastern Finland and Coronaria Sleep Clinic analysed over 100 professional ice hockey players’ sleep and found that a whopping one in four suffered from major sleep disorders. And, surprisingly, the vast majority of them aren’t getting anywhere near the 9 to 10 hours of sleep they need.

High-intensity competition, jam-packed travel schedules, and late-night games all make good sleep crucial, and teams are always on the hunt for any kind of competitive advantage. Tuomilehto is happy that many of them are starting to understand that “a well-rested and recovered athlete plays better than a sleep-deprived one.”

Even if you don’t happen to be a world-class athlete, Tuomilehto’s pro tips can help anyone looking to up their sleep game.

For starters, “you have to cool down after the day and warm up for sleep, Tuomilehto says. For some people that means taking a nightly walk around the block.

For others it’s meditating, taking a hot bath, or doing whatever helps you clear your mind before bed. “You aren’t going to have a good sleep if your mind is a mess,” Tuomilehto says.

And then we come to perhaps the most common sleep-related question of the 21st century: “Should I really not look at my phone before bed?”

According to Tuomilehto, watching TV on your phone with one eye on your Instagram feed and another on your email is definitely not a recipe for a good night’s sleep.

“They affect our ability to gradually shift gears into sleep,” Tuomilehto says. It’s best to avoid using your devices at least two hours before bed. Sleep is all about rhythm and pace, if you routinely activate your brain towards the evening, the chance for good sleeping is negligible.

It’s time to put to bed the idea that sleep is a luxury, or only important for babies, and wake up to the fact that it truly is a central part of every aspect of our lives. 

Book nook

IC E L AND IC

NORDIC MOOD

TH RIL L E R

Award-winning crime writer Yrsa Sigurdardottir’s The Reckoning opens when a chilling time capsule is discovered in a school playground containing threats of ominous events to come.

The popularity of excellent Scandi thrillers shows no signs of slowing down.

Yrsa Sigurdardottir: The Reckoning (Hodder & Stoughton)

BOOK GUIDE

LITE R ARY J OU R N E YS From lifestyle guides to thrillers and literary fiction, here are 12 titles worth your read this year.

COMPILED BY KATJA PANTZAR COLLAGES SESILJA LINDELL

TH E FINNIS H TO UC H

The opening novel in a series featuring Hella Mauzer, the first-ever female inspector in the Helsinki Homicide Unit, takes place in 1952 Lapland, where Mauzer is tasked with finding a missing man.

Katja Ivar: Evil Things (Bitter Lemon Press)

DANI SH D RAMA

The debut novel from the creator of the hit TV show The Killing, The Chestnut Man is a adrenaline-filled thriller set in Copenhagen.

Soren Sveistrup: The Chestnut Man (Penguin UK)

64 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

SW E D I SH SUSPE NS E

In the first instalment in a new crime series, young detective inspector Embla NystrĂśm heads off for an annual moose hunt that turns out to be anything but a restful break when two of the hunting group go missing.

Helene Tursten: Hunting game (Soho Press)

JAPANE SE TAL E S

With an intro by bestselling writer Haruki Murakami, this collection features a range of Japanese short stories from the nineteenth century to today.

S O U TH KO RE A N LO RE

The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories (Penguin Random House)

By New York Times best-selling author Lisa See, this novel charts the enduring friendship of two women who are part of Jeju island’s all-female diving collective.

Lisa See: The Island of the Sea Women (Simon Schuster)

THERE AN D BACK AGAI N From South Korea to London, these fiction titles travel back in time.

BR I T I S H F U T U R ES

From bestselling author Ian McEwan, this provocative tale takes place in an alternative 1980s London and poses fundamental questions such as what is it that makes us human?

Ian McEwan: Machines Like Me (Penguin UK)

AME R I CAN SAGAS

One of the year’s most anticipated titles is City of Girls

by Eat Pray Love author. This chronicle is set in the glamorous 1940s theatre world of New York.

Elizabeth Gilbert: City of Girls (Bloomsbury)

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 65

>

ILTA- JA YÖVUOROJA AIKAISIA KOULUAAMUJA KOKO PERHE SAMASSA PÖYDÄSSÄ HETKIÄ , JOTK A JÄ ÄVÄT ELÄMÄ ÄN.

aurinkomatkat.fi

66 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

AME R I CAN OR D E R

F I N D YO U R HAPPY PL ACE These timely titles explore novel ways to tackle clutter, anxiety, and unhappiness.

Journalist Gretchen Rubin examines how eliminating stuff that we don’t use or need can free up space for what we really need.

Gretchen Rubin: Outer Order, Inner Calm (Hodder & Stoughton)

FI NNI SH JOY

Live Like a Finn

by New York-based Finnish-born writer and photographer Liisa Jokinen, opens the door on happy living Nordic style.

Liisa Jokinen: Live Like A Finn (WSOY / TRE)

B RITIS H CA L M

By a bestselling author who has suffered from panic and anxiety attacks, this is a modernday guide on how to feel calm in today’s world with all its digital demands.

Matt Haig: Notes On A Nervous Planet (Canongate)

DANI SH D E L I G HT

Meik Wiking, founder and CEO of the Happiness Institute, explores six building blocks that can improve happiness.

Meik Wiking: The Key to Happiness (Penguin UK)

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 67

Tampere Helsinki Stockholm Riga

1h Bremen

2h Budapest

3h

Destination Tampere Region – the coolest activities in a winter wonderland Winter swimming and sauna Believe it or not, swimming in a hole in the ice really does you the world of good. As the world’s Sauna Capital, there are several places in Tampere to try winter swimming combined with a sauna. Try for example the Sauna & Restaurant Kuuma and dip into the lake right in the city centre.

www.businesstampere.com @FlyTampere

Luminous tour skating Tour skating has become quite a popular winter activity in recent years, and it’s no wonder really – skating on natural ice while taking in the beautiful lake scenery is a great way to enjoy a sunny winter’s day. With the new illuminated tour skating track in Tohloppi, it is now possible to enjoy skating even on dark winter evenings.

Explore beautiful natural landscape Winter is a surprisingly good time to explore the wild and peaceful natural landscape of the Tampere region.

There are two large national parks in the vicinity of Tampere: Seitseminen and Helvetinjärvi. Activity tip: Take a hike to see the Helvetinkolu gorge, a landmark of Helvetinjärvi national park, or try cross-country skiing in Seitseminen.

Photo: Julian Herbrig

Malaga

Showroom Celebrating creative outcomes

COMPILED BY SILJA KUDEL

WONDER WALLS Boost your shelfesteem with wowful wall elements.

Out of the blue

VOLCANIC HORIZONS AN OTH E RWO R L D LY EXPER I EN C E

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES, HANNA PUTZ

awaits guests at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon wellbeing resort. The new Retreat Hotel by Basalt Architects blends seamlessly with the topography, evocatively incorporating rugged geological features.

The architects state that they wanted the lava, moss, and water to be omnipresent, “resulting in architecture that is woven in with the natural elements.”

Water surrounds and flows through the interiors, which integrate volcanic rock and exposed concrete in minimalistic shades matching the treeless landscape.

B ASKE TS OF B A BY LON

Create your own hanging gardens with Wallment’s 9 Square Grid. €59

W HO’S G OT THE B UTTON ?

Add a beauty spot to your wall with the multifunctional Button rack from GRANdesign. €249

Book nook

BEASTLY FEAST Shortlisted for an award in Korea, A Thousand and One Creatures illustrated by Laura Merz takes a quirky look at odd facts about animals and their behaviour. The award-winning first volume will be followed up by a sequel this spring. €30 from Etana Editions

I N THE R I N G

A simple ring shines a minimalistic spotlight on the Lempi shelf by Hakola. €119

February 2019 BLUE WINGS 69

LIFE HAS MORE COLORS IN SINGAPORE T H E N O R D I C WAY

A CITY-STATE WITH A SPIRIT BIGGER THAN ITS SIZE

Ever-changing Singapore has historical houses, futuristic landmarks, a bustling Chinatown, a charming Little India – and everything in between. Finnair flies directly from Helsinki to Singapore several times a week. Book your flights at finnair.com

Showroom Celebrating creative outcomes

Perfect Match

AESOP IN SILK

KL AUS HAAPANI E MI

London-based designer with a fondness for rich ornament

ROSA L I KSOM

Finnish writer with an idiosyncratic colloquial style

POLAR BYZAN T IN E

Scarf collection and hand-bound volume of animal stories

Artist Q & A

MEET THE SHOPLIFTER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES, JENS BERGSTRAND, MAGNUS UNNAR

Discover why artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir is obsessed with hair.

WH Y D O YO U CA L L YO URS E L F TH E

the incredible creativity I see in African-American hairstyles in New York. We are very preoccupied with taming our hair.”

S H O P L IFTE R? “When I moved to New York in 1994, I was at a party and introduced myself as Hrafnhildur. The woman replied, ‘nice to meet you… shoplifter!’ I found her response so amusing that I didn’t correct her. I decided it Nervescape VIII was a hilarious opens at pseudonym.”

Kiasma on

W H Y D O YOU LOVE

B R I G H T COLOUR S ? “I haven’t met a colour I didn’t like! I strongly believe in the healing powers of colour. Many people are afraid to use them – they can be intimidating, there are so many of them! Some February 2. artists are reluctant to WH Y IS H AIR YO U R use bright colours, possibly S IGNATU RE M E DI U M ? “Hair as they represent childhood is a huge part of how we fun and seem somehow choose to create our identity. less serious. I embrace the I’m fascinated by its variety, fun factor. My work at the from Victorian memory contemporary art museum flowers to the colourful Kiasma in Helsinki will be a sculptural hairdos of the ’80s rainbow explosion.” to my sincere admiration of

Manga menswear

KING OF COATS FR E SH FASHI ON G RAD UATE Rolf Ekroth has leapt into the international limelight with the January launch of his menswear label at the Pitti Uomo fashion fair in Florence.

“Securing financial backing so soon after graduation is every designer’s dream,” enthuses the jacket whizz, whose stunning coats are spotlighted in his first collection.

“My work is inspired by my teenage passions: sailing and 1990s hip hop. The new line also takes its cue from manga comics,” reveals the designer.

February 2019 BLUE WINGS 71

Showroom Celebrating creative outcomes

Yin-yang zoo life

Giant pandas will soon move into a spectacular new Panda House at Copenhagen Zoo. Accessible from 360°, the misty bamboo forests of the yin-yang-shaped enclosure closely resemble the pandas’ natural habitat. “The two halves, yin and yang, male and female, complete each other to form a single circular whole,” says architect Bjarke Ingels.

The Mending Project opens February 8

The art of mending

PATCHING IT UP

of clothing that needs t­ender loving care? Bring it along to Helsinki’s ­contemporary art museum Kiasma and have it ­mended as part of an interactive installation by Lee Mingwei, a Taiwanese-American artist known for his conceptual works fostering communality and generosity. The coloured threads weave healing connections between strangers.

D O YOU OW N AN I TE M

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES

PANDAMONIUM

Marstrand shoes C O LO R E D BY M OT H E R N AT U R E

Sweden’s natural milieu and Marstrand island inspired our shoes. Barren landscapes aroused sensations and emblazoned their beauty into our designs. We borrowed our spring collection colors directly from nature. Golden moss clinging to warm, grey rocks. Foamy blue seas contrasting with nuances of dusk. Clever shoemakers creating Marstrand shoes by hand – while preserving a solid handicraft tradition.

B U Y YO U R M A RST R A N D S H O E S AT:

FEETFIRST.FI/NILSONSHOES

W W W . M A R ST R A N D S KO R . S E

AT RA I N WA L L PAPE R

Bertel Gardberg’s vintage print is a knockout in hot crimson by Pihlgren & Ritola. €87 per roll

Flirty fun!

Colour code

PRETTY IN PINK

Q U U L AM P

Wood and glass are stacked like a rosy snowman in pendant lamps from QUU Design. €350

Glow like a wintry northern sunset in soothing shades of cerise, crimson, and lilac.

V EG A N DEO C R EA M

Leave a subtle trail of lavender freshness with ethical deodorant from Kaurilan Sauna. €13.90

W HI L E WALLET

A frilly skirt of magenta adds a flirtatious touch to Kuula + Jylhä’s hand-made leather wallets. €59

Perfectly pastel!

HE I KKI MARILA

The expressionistic painter experiments with pastels in his current show at Galerie Forsblom.

Fly with the brighter alliance.

Welcome to oneworld®, an alliance of 13 world-leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and connecting you to over 1,000 destinations around the world. It’s the smartest way to travel and make your connections to more than 150 countries worldwide.

Exploring the world has never been easier. If you’re planning to visit three, four, five or more continents in a single trip, booking a oneworld Explorer fare is the simpler way to travel around the world. Select routes, plan stopovers, and book your itinerary by searching global travel options that fit your needs.

Learn more about how you can travel bright at oneworld.com

Enjoy more places.

And how you get there.

Finnair Plus Silver oneworld Ruby

Finnair Plus Gold oneworld Sapphire

Finnair Plus Platinum oneworld Emerald

Earn and redeem Finnair Plus points on all oneworld member airlines Earn Tier points on all eligible oneworld flights Access to Business Class priority check-in Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating Priority on waitlists and when on standby Access to Business Class lounges Priority boarding Extra baggage allowance Priority baggage handling Access to First Class priority check-in Access to First Class lounges Fast track at security lanes Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating is in accordance with the individual policy of the oneworld member airline operating the flight. First and business class check-in desks and lounges are not available at all airports. Fast track is not available at all airports. Priority baggage handling is not available on flights operated by British Airways. Extra baggage allowance benefits differ for Sapphire and Emerald level members. oneworld benefits are available only to passengers on scheduled flights that are both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline (marketed means that there must be a oneworld member airline’s flight number on your ticket). American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LATAM Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and oneworld are trademarks of their respective companies. LATAM Airlines (Paraguay) is currently not a part of oneworld. Some limitations and exceptions may apply. For more information, visit www.oneworld.com/benefits. Fiji Airways is a oneworld connect partner which provides select alliance benefits to oneworld members. For more information, visit www.oneworld.com/oneworld-connect.

WHAT WORKS IN SWEDEN

WORKWEAR COLLECTION 2019

Our garments prove themselves every day in tough environments.

Visible, durable and comfortable. We feel that if they work in Sweden, they will work everywhere and more and more workers, all over the world, agree with us.

Test ProJob. We can take it.

www.projob.se/en Importer Oy Trexet Finland Ab A New Wave Group Company www.newwave.fi

Globetrotter On the road with a blogger

Skandasana (side yoga squat) is a super grounding pose.

Chocolate cake deserves a photo shoot!

Post-yoga glow, thinking about the croissant I’m about to buy!

Meditation visualisation in the south of France.

The people’s yogi Erin Motz is not your traditional yoga teacher.

She and her Bad Yogi tribe are redefining yoga culture, one asana at a time.

W H AT M AD E YOU FA L L I N LOV E W I T H

S H A R E A SPECI AL TE ACHI NG MOME NT.

I felt graceful in my movement which I NEVER felt while doing any other kind of exercise. Yoga was the first thing that made me appreciate the way my body could move.

A highlight is less a single class and more a moment in time−creating a ­community, even online.

PHOTOS BAD YOGI OFFICIAL

YO GA?

TIP S TO KE E P IN G I T R EA L (O N A N D O FF TH E M AT) . What other option do you have, really?! Keeping it real is much less risky than trying to play it safe and fake being something we’re not. Taking occasional criticism is a small price to pay for the freedom of being yourself.

I would have to say a sloth! I’m persistent, but occasionally slow moving.

PI C K A SPI R I T ANI MAL .

W H AT’S YOUR G UI LTY PL E ASUR E ?

A giant charcuterie board with an icecold Aperol Spritz or a glass of rosé… or both. But I’d consume it all without a drop of guilt! 

E R I N MOTZ is an American yogi based in Nice. She is the CoFounder of Bad Yogi and voice of real yogis everywhere. In her spare time, Erin is a wine drinker, cheese eater, and not your typical yoga teacher.

@badyogiofficial

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 77

CHINA IS FULL OF SURPRISES T H E N O R D I C WAY

FROM PEACEFUL TEMPLES TO BUSY STREETS, CHINA MOVES IN DIFFERENT WAYS

Hike the Great Wall of China near Beijing, enjoy a dumpling banquet in Xi’an or shop until you drop in Hong Kong - China has infinite ways to surprise and delight its visitors.

Finnair flies to seven destinations in China. Book your flights at finnair.com

Fly

PHOTO FINNAIR

The world of Finnair

Inspiring journeys The world is your playground with Finnair’s extensive network FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 79

World of Finnair Highlights of the month

Bordeaux Fall under the glorious spell of this French port city. Often listed as a top weekend break destination in Europe, Bordeaux is a stunning architectural fairyland surrounded by one of the world’s leading wine regions. Known also as Sleeping Beauty, the city charms its visitors with a relaxed pace of life that beckons you to unwind and find your joie de vivre (joy of living).

Finnair flies to Bordeaux (BOD) two times a week starting in May.

80 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

PHOTO GUILLAUME FLANDRE

SLEEPING BEAUTY

World of Finnair Highlights of the month

oneworld turns 20!

IF YO U ARE RE A D I N G T H I S you could well be connecting to or from a oneworld alliance partner flight.

February marks the 20th anniversary of the oneworld alliance, of which Finnair is a proud partner. This provides a great opportunity for oneworld to introduce new technology to make travel even easier, as well as to give

the oneworld brand a fresh look.

Finnair will be a launch partner of oneworld’s new digital initiative, which includes services such as delivery of boarding passes for oneworld partner connecting flights through the Finnair app.

Meanwhile, take a look at oneworld’s new visual style as well as the tier benefits on page 76 in this issue of Blue Wings!

Cheers to blueberry FOL LOW I NG in the footsteps of Finnair’s beloved complimentary blueberry juice, the airline is launching Blueberry Saison beer. Produced by Finnish Maku Brewery, Blueberry Saison is a refreshing mix of classic Belgian-style Saison and Nordic blueberries.

Finnair long-haul Business Class customers can enjoy Blueberry Saison in addition to the other complimentary beverages served.

FINNAIR ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Helsinki Airport undergoes a renewal to offer an even smoother travel experience. Please allow extra time when arriving to the airport by car. Keep up with the renewal by following Finavia’s website.

FINNAIR

If you’re a fellow café enthusiast and love discovering cool coffee shops, then you’re in for a treat in Dubai. @jenniukk

F EEL FI NNAI R

Concerned about the climate impact of your flights? Now you can offset the CO2 emissions of your flight by supporting a CO2 emissions reduction project.

FI NNAI R

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 81

World of Finnair Services

STAY CONNECTED

Fly the short northern route

FI NNAI R CHAT Finnair Live chat is available on weekdays 7 am to 10 pm, on Saturdays 9 am to 6 pm, and on Sundays 10 am to 10 pm (Finnish time).

chatbot, affectionately known as Finn, who is ready to help plan your journey via Finnair’s global Facebook Messenger account.

ME E T FI NNAI R ’S

FI NNAI R APP Tap your way through your journey. Log in with your last name and booking reference or your Finnair Plus username and password.

WITH A MODERN FLEET, extensive route network, and

world-class service, Finnair offers a comfortable and convenient way to travel.

Finnair is one of the world’s oldest airlines.

Since then, the company has grown from a small carrier to one that is a respected member of the international airline industry.

Finnair’s route network includes 19 destinations in Asia, eight in the Americas, and 100 in Europe. In ESTAB L IS H E D IN 1 923 ,

2017, Finnair carried almost 12 ­million passengers. And during the 2018 summer season, Finnair will operate 97 flights a week to Asia, of which 38 flights are to China and 38 flights to Japan.

Finnair’s modern and ecofriendly fleet consists of over 60 aircraft, most of which are Airbuses.

All Finnair A330 and A350 aircraft offer Wi-Fi connections.

SKY HI G H W I - FI

W ECHAT

Scan and follow Finnair’s official WeChat account.

SMART PACKING

TIPS FOR A SMOOTH TAKEOFF

Pack too much?

Avoid excess baggage fees by paying in advance for extra allowance at special pre-paid prices directly from finnair.com.

Before your flight

Carry-on allowance

Self-service bag drop

There’s a lot going on at Helsinki Airport and the construction is a nuisance. Arrive at the airport in good time and get to know the changes beforehand.

Finnair customers can take onboard one carry-on baggage and a personal item such as a backpack that must be placed under the seat in front of you.

Print your bag tag at the self-service kiosk, go to the self-service bag drop, scan your boarding pass, scan your bag tag, and send your bag through.

82 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

Liquids rule Liquids are allowed through security in containers (max 100ml) packed in a transparent resealable 1-litre plastic bag.

World of Finnair Frequent flyer program

Finnair Plus membership THE FINNAIR PLUS program allows

FI

N

N

A JO IR IN .C A O T M /P L

U

S

you to earn both tier points and award points when travelling with Finnair or a oneworld airline and award points from services provided

by Finnair Plus partners.

A WORLD OF BENEFITS for free by filling in the form online at finnair.com/plus.

As a Plus member, you get access to valuable benefits and rewards. Earn points for flights and services and use them both at home and abroad.

You can use your Finnair Plus award points for additional Finnair services such as seat selection, J O IN FINNAIR PLU S

WHAT’S NEW THIS MONTH? meals, and extra baggage payments. The number of points you pay depends on your flight and the chosen service. You can pay for travel extras at the time you book your reservation or later through the Manage Booking tab.

Go to finnairshop.com to find Finnair gift cards, partner services, and award vouchers.

BEST FROM PARTNERS

Finavia parking

Get the most out of your ­Finnair Plus membership by keeping your personal profile up to date. You can edit your contact information any time, set your meal preferences, and book flights easily. By filling in your passport details, you also save time at check-in. To receive exclusive flight offers and member promotions, just update your marketing preferences. Log into your Finnair Plus profile: finnair.com/plus

Earn Finnair Plus points by reserving your parking space in advance at Helsinki Airport.

Fill in your Finnair Plus membership number while securing your reservation through Helsinki Airport’s pre-booking system and your Finnair Plus points will be added to your account automatically. The parking area is accessible 24/7. finnairshop.com

Point purchases Buy Finnair Plus points to redeem your dream award flights and get a discount of up to 25%! This offer is available Jan 20–Feb 18. finnair.com/plus

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 83

World of Finnair Deals of the month

7 reasons to love finnairshop.com THE FINNAIR SHOP is your one-stop shopping

site to pre-order products before your flight, buy Nordic design items delivered directly to your seat, and use your Finnair Plus points for various Finnair Plus partner services.

URBANISTA SEATTLE On-ear Bluetooth headphones.

Two colour options. Available at finnairshop.com for seat delivery.

€87

FURLA GIULIA ELIZABETH ARDEN

Crossbody Bag red. Available at finnairshop.com for seat delivery.

€158

Arden Eight Hour Hydration Heroes.

For lips, hands, skin, and face. Available at finnairshop.com for seat delivery.

€38

HERMES TWILLY EdP, 50ml. Available at finnairshop.com for seat delivery.

€158

84 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

FEBRUARY DEALS

WINTER FAVES During the ski holidays from February 18–28 receive a 20% discount on onboard and pre-order purchases over €75. Please visit finnairshop.com, check the catalogue in the seat pocket, or ask a cabin crew member for more information.

World of Finnair Deals of the month

RETAIL THERAPY

FINLAYSON PESUE Duvet cover set. Size 150x210 cm + 50x60 cm.

Available at finnairshop.com for home delivery.

€54,95

SAMSONITE LITE-SHOCK

SHOPPING MADE EASY! Now you can use your Finnair Plus points to pay for your pre-order products and o ­ nboard purchases! Go to the complimentary Nordic Sky portal onboard – the ­pre-order webshop is always open on Wi-Fi connected Finnair flights. Find the best deals on ­tax-free ­products and enjoy special Finnair Plus offers.

4X WAYS TO SHOP ONB OARD

Spinner cabin bag, 55 cm.

Available at finnairshop.com for home delivery.

Shop online via your own mobile device during the flight using the complimentary Nordic Sky portal.

€289 + 1,000 p P 0 0 R 0 FE F O

1, PR E - OR D E R

Pre-order online before any Finnair flight. finnairshop.com

AWARD VOUCHER Redeem a voucher for one ­overnight stay at Rukakeskus or Pyhätunturi. Use your ­Finnair Plus points or a combination of money and points (available in finnairshop.com).

€69 + 1,000 p

HOME DELIVERY

Use Finnair Plus points to shop for products delivered directly to your home.

VOUCHE R S

Use Finnair Plus points to redeem a voucher for restaurants, hotel stays, car rentals, and much more.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 85

World of Finnair Flying stories

Q&A

Flying stories IT’S THE CUSTOMERS who make Finnair

and that’s why we’ve dedicated this page to your travel stories.

SHAR E YOUR Finnair

moments on Instagram!

Use #feelfinnair, if you want to be featured.

Meet the frequent flyer.

MAR I KA KOR PI L AAKSO

Finnair Plus member from Finland valentinovalkaj Life in the north. Harsh but beautiful. #visitfinland

roopehonkapirtti It’s been a week since I came back from Lapland, and I’m missing it already... But who wouldn’t?

FI NNAI R PLUS TI ER

Platinum W HI CH FI NNAI R PLUS B E NE FI T D O YOU USE MOST?

Access to a Finnair lounge and the fast track security lanes.

I F YOU COUL D TRAVEL ANYW HE R E , W HERE WOUL D I T B E ?

Madrid, I love the buzz of that city−la vida, la gente y la comida.

W HAT’S YOUR AL L-T IME FAVOUR I TE VI E W?

arquilinn Cats of London. #england #londoner #solotravel

seeepf Fly with the Blue Wings. What would you do during a short flight? #artwork #urbanscetches

Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, especially at night.

FAVOUR I TE D E STI NATION ?

Helsinki. It’s always good to come back home!

TOP TI PS FOR HE L SIN KI?

TAKING PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ONBOARD your travel experience? The use of small cameras or mobile devices for photography and video to capture your own travel moments is welcome onboard Finnair flights. Please respect the privacy of others onboard, and always ask the WANT TO S H A R E

86 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

crew and your fellow passengers for their consent before including them in your memories. And as always, please follow crew instructions: crew members can prohibit photography or video if it disturbs other customers or the crew’s work, or causes a safety concern.

1. Visit the Amox Rex art museum and Helsinki Central Library Oodi.

2. Explore the brilliant restaurant scene. One of my favourites is Baskeri & Basso Bistro/Staff & Wine Bar in the Eira neighbourhood.

3. Take a stroll by the sea.

World of Finnair Sky food

Eat well FANCY A SNACK ONBOARD? Finnair offers a wide selection of seasonal and healthy options that combine the best of the Nordics, Europe, and Asia.

3 WAYS TO A TASTY MEAL Complimentary beverages Complimentary coffee, tea, water, and Finnair’s signature blueberry juice are always served on Finnair flights.

SI G NATUR E ME NU.

Business Class passengers on Finnair longhaul flights can enjoy Signature Menus prepared by chefs from top restaurants.

S KY B I STR O.

Pick of the month Celebrate Valentine’s Day and pamper yourself or surprise a friend by pre-ordering a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates to be served onboard.

Passengers on Finnair flights within Europe and the Middle East can mix and match favourite tastes from the onboard Sky Bistro menu.

FINNA

SKY BISTRIR O

PR E - OR D E R .

Passengers on Finnair flights within Europe and the Middle East can choose sandwiches, salads, breakfast, or dinner in advance from the Nordic Bistro menu.

CHEF OF THE SEASON A T A S T E S E N S A T I ON awaits long-haul Business Class passengers flying from Tokyo to Helsinki with Finnair’s first Japanese Signature Chef Rika Maezawa and her four seasons menu. The vegetablecentric meals stretch beyond the conventional boundaries of Japanese cuisine.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 87

World of Finnair Wellness & comfort

Onboard wellness

3X TIPS FOR CABIN COMFORT

STAY HYDRATED It is recommended to drink 1-2 decilitres of water every hour. If possible, minimise the amount of tea, coffee, and alcohol you drink.

HEALTHIER AIRCRAFT

The Finnair A350 combines the latest technology with advanced passenger comfort features to help you rediscover the thrill of flying. An advanced HEPA filtering system changes the cabin air every two to three minutes ensuring comfort and health for all passengers. Large windows let natural light flow into the cabin and LED technology emits lighting and colours that are customised to fit the time of day, destination, or season. The noise level is 16 decibels below the standard requirement, so resting and relaxing while onboard is easy.

GET SOME SLEEP The best way to tune out is to wear an eye mask and ear plugs. Keep warm, too – have a jacket or blanket handy in case you need it.

2X COMFORTABLE UPGRADES NORDIC BUSINESS CLASS Finnair’s Business Class seats let you fully recline on your intercontinental flight. The seats transform into a 200 cm (6’6”) horizontal bed, so you can enjoy a good night’s sleep.

88 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

ECONOMY COMFORT Finnair’s Economy Comfort seating in the front of the Economy Class cabin makes intercontinental travel even more pleasurable with 8–13 cm (3–5 inches) more legroom.

GENERAL WELLBEING Try to bring something to snack on.

Fruit and veggies are always a great healthy option. And remember to wear comfortable clothing.

World of Finnair Flight mode

Stay connected THE NORDIC SKY portal is available on all

intercontinental flights and most European flights, and gives you access to news, destination information, and Finnair services.

You can use the portal to connect your own devices to the internet.

HOW TO GET STARTED

1 Join the Wi-Fi ­network Nordic Sky

3 Start exploring at nordic-sky. finnair.com

urn your T device to flight mode and ­enable Wi-Fi

2 Open the browser of your choice

4

LOOKING FOR A READ? Choose RE AD IN G to access all magazines available on the Nordic Sky portal.

WI-FI PRICES

FINNAIR APP – YOUR TRAVEL COMPANION

1 HOUR

7.95€

3 HOURS

11.95€

12 HOURS

19.95€

These prices apply to long haul flights. You can purchase or redeem internet access directly from the portal.

Get boarding passes, book flights and travel extras, view your Finnair Plus balance, and much more with the Finnair app. The app supports your Finnair journey all the way from home to your destination and back!

WHAT’S PLAYING VE NOM

SMAL L FOOT

Tom Hardy stars as one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters.

A Yeti is convinced that the elusive creatures known as ’humans’ really do exist.

THE HOUSE W I TH A CLOCK I N I TS WAL L S

YOUNG SHE L D ON

The tale of 10-year-old Lewis who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house.

B AD TI ME S AT THE E L R OYAL E

The tale of 10-year-old Lewis who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house.

This single-camera comedy gives us the chance to meet Sheldon Cooper in childhood.

THI S I S US

Sometimes life will surprise you.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 89

World of Finnair Staff tips

Svalbard is known for its rugged, remote terrain.

Reaching Dufourspitze’s summit, the highest peak in the Swiss Alps!

The iconic Matterhorn dominates Zermatt.

A food truck housed in an airstream trailer in Talkeetna.

Take a peak ZE RM ATT, SWITZER L A N D

TA L K EEN TA , A L AS KA, US

SVAL B AR D, NORWAY

If you’re up for amazing skiing or hiking topped with gorgeous views, Zermatt in the Swiss Alps is a great place to start. Stroll this car-free village with its cobblestoned streets or take a gondola up to the Klein Matterhorn Glacier Paradise viewing platform, which stands at 3,899 metres above sea level.

Talk about a panorama!

This little Alaskan village on the outskirts of Denali National Park and Preserve provides excellent camping and fishing grounds. If sightseeing is your thing, take an air tour and discover the national park from a bird’seye view. For those into climbing, Denali at 6,190 metres is the highest peak in North America.

Some say polar bears outnumber humans on Spitsbergen Island, so it is advised to wander with caution. Hiking aficionados should head to Perriertoppen, which at 1,710 metres is the second highest peak in Svalbard.

Alternatively, visit the former Soviet town Pyramiden, now an abandoned mining village.

90 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

KAR I KOSSI L A is no

amateur mountain climber having hiked many a summit around the world. One of his greatest feats is a skiing expedition across the Greenland ice cap.

PHOTOS KARI KOSSILA

Finnair Lead Engineer Kari Kossila shares three hiking gems that will leave you breathless (from just the view alone).

World of Finnair Holiday sampler

Experience more with Finnair

TOP 3 EUROPEAN EATS Looking to spice up your daily menu? Choose one of these delicious holiday destinations from finnair.com/holidays.

Is there anything more chic and traditional than afternoon tea? Indulge in fancy fingerfoods while sipping your cuppa – or top it off with a glass of champagne.

LOND ON.

EXPLORE FINNAIR HOLIDAYS FINNAIR HOLIDAYS takes you straight to where the best

stories are born. Flights, hotel, experiences, and triple Finnair Plus points can now be found from one place. Finnair Holidays is available in Estonia, Finland, and Sweden. Find your story at finnair.com/holidays.

Over 100 destinations

Entire trip from one place

Triple Finnair Plus points

Finnair Holidays opens the door to the most intriguing places in the world. The story of a lifetime awaits!

Pick a set combination or tailor your own trip: flights, hotels, and experiences all in one place.

Every euro you use for your Finnair Holidays trip will gain you three Finnair Plus tier and award points.

R OME . Pizza may seem the obvious choice for dinner, and is well worth the wait. ­Authentic pizza here is all about the crispy crust and fresh topping combinations.

Lose yourself in one of the many cosy cafés for coffee and people-watching.

And don’t forget to satisfy your sweet tooth with a bite or two of a traditional cake.

VI E NNA.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 91

World of Finnair Sustainability

Sustainable air travel: mission possible

depending on the raw material.

The prices for supporting biofuel are 10, 20, and 65 euros for return flights within Finland, Europe, or between continents. These have been calculated based on the assumption that a 15 per cent biocomponent blend is used and that all passengers select this option.

“We want to offer the best solutions for responsible air travellers,” says Finnair CEO Topi Manner. “Aviation has several positive economic and social impacts, and it is important that we work hard to build more responsible air travel.”

A I R PASS E NGE RS are more discerning in terms of sustainable travel and want to know that airlines are doing everything in their power to reduce the impacts of air travel on the environment.

Now Finnair customers can contribute directly to reducing their environmental footprint. The Push for Change service makes it possible to donate carbon dioxide offset charges when booking Finnair flights. The offset charge is one euro for a return flight within Finland, two euros for a return flight within Europe, and six euros for a return intercontinental flight.

Customers can also choose to support biofuel flights. The use of biofuel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 60 to 80 per cent

Finnair Plus members can use points to pay for the service.

BETTER PLANET Finnair’s sustainability strategy is built on three principles – cleaner, caring, and collaborative.

DO GOOD Finnair Plus members can make point donations via finnairshop.com to • The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation • Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) • The Association of Friends of the University Children’s Hospitals • The Cancer Society of Finland • The Finnish Red Cross • UNICEF Finland • Hope • UN Women

90+ YEARS AND COUNTING 1 92 3

1 924

Finnair, known as Aero, is founded

Finnair receives its first aircraft: Junkers F 13

1 9 47

1952

1968

1969

1980

1992

Finnair air hostesses take to the skies

Helsinki ­ irport opens A

Finnair reveals its new logo and name change

First Finnair trans-Atlantic flight to New York City

Blue Wings launches

The Finnair Plus program is introduced

92 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

World of Finnair Fleet

AIRB U S A35 0- 9 0 0

Number 12 + 7 on order Seating capacity 297-336 Length 66.8 m Wingspan 64.75 m Cruising speed 903 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 13,000 m AIRB U S A330-3 0 0

Number 8 Seating capacity 289/263 Length 63.6 m Wingspan 60.3 m Cruising speed 870 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 12,600 m AIRB U S A32 1

Number 19 Seating capacity 196–209 Length 44.5 m Wingspan 34.1 m Cruising speed 840 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 11,900 m

* gradual roll-out by 2019

AIRB U S A32 0

Number 10 Seating capacity 165 Length 37.6 m Wingspan 34.1 m Cruising speed 840 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 11,900 m

* gradual roll-out by 2019

AIRB U S A31 9

Number 8 Seating capacity 138 Length 33.8 m Wingspan 34.1 m Cruising speed 840 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 11,900 m

* gradual roll-out by 2019

E M B RAE R 1 9 0

Operated by Norra Number 12 Seating capacity 100 Length 36.2 m Wingspan 28.7 m Cruising speed 850 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 12,300 m

ATR 72

Operated by Norra Number 12 Seating capacity 68/72 Length 27 m Wingspan 27 m Cruising speed 463 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 7,620 m

1 995

Finnair’s website launches

1 999

1 999

2 004

Finnair joins oneworld alliance

Arrival of ­ irbus A320 A

Online check-in opens

2 013

Launch of Marimekko for Finnair ­collection

2 014

2 015

2018

Finnair celebrates its 90th anniversary

Arrival of ­ irbus A350 A

Finnair celebrates its 95th anniversary

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 93

World of Finnair Airport info

1st floor 2nd floor

55

54

HAPPY LANDINGS

WEST PIER MAY 2019

2019 terminal expansions

AUKIO FEBRUARY 2019

53 52

BUS GATES 51 A–D

T2

34

NONSCHENGEN AREA

FINNAIR LOUNGE, FINNAIR PREMIUM LOUNGE

33 GROUND FLOOR

Security check BUS GATES 50 A–M

NONSCHENGEN AREA

32 32a

Welcome to Helsinki Airport

TRANSFER TRANSFER SERVICE 3 SERVICE 2 Passport control

31A-E 30

CHECK YOUR GATE and departure time on the airport monitors. All Finnair and Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra) departures are located in the same terminal. If you do not have a boarding pass for your connecting flight, please contact the transfer service desks in T2.

SCHENGEN AREA

29 Security check

28 CHECK-IN 240–270

FINNAIR CHECK-IN +SERVICE DESKS 201–229

T2 T1 TERMINAL 1 EXPANSION APRIL 2019

CHECK IN 101–114

TRANSFER SERVICE 1

12

13

14

BAGGAGE STORAGE

15

GROUND FLOOR

16 17 18 19

27

26

THE RING RAIL LINE

25

20

21

22

FINNAIR LOUNGE

3RD FLOOR

23

THE FINNAIR CITY BUS

to the Helsinki Railway Station leaves from platform 10 at T2 every 20 minutes. Travel time is approx. 30 minutes. €6.90

Security check

Security check

11

31x 31

HE L SI NKI AI R POR T has 35 automated border control gates for travellers flying to or from destinations outside of the Schengen area. Fifteen are located in the departure hall; 15 are located in the upstairs arrival hall; another five are available in the downstairs arrival hall (for EU/ EEA/CH citizens only).

Passengers from the EU, EEA, CH, Japan, and South Korea with biometric passports can use the automated border control gates.

Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and U.S. citizens with biometric passports may use the automated border control upon departure only. All other nationalities must use the manned border control booths in the departure and arrival halls.

Those passengers travelling with infants, baggage trolleys, or wheelchairs must use the manual control lane.

connects Helsinki Airport to downtown Helsinki via train. There is direct access from the corridor between T1 and T2.

24 WIRELESS INTERNET

Helsinki Airport offers free Wi-Fi throughout the airport.

PLAYROOM

Children’s playrooms offer toys, videos, and baby care facilities.

94 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

World of Finnair The Nordic way

Fly the short northern route FLY VIA HELSINKI and take the most direct route between Europe and Asia.

Thanks to Helsinki’s location, Finnair’s northern route is a geographically convenient way between Europe and Asia. The northern route also offers competitive travel times to destinations in the US from many European cities.

The Helsinki Airport is efficient, compact, and easy to navigate, making it ideal for transferring between Europe, Asia, and the US with short transfer times.

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 95

World of Finnair

Domestic and European destinations

Tromsø Reykjavík

From Helsinki

Ivalo

Iceland Kittilä Rovaniemi

Finnair Destinations New Finnair Destinations 2019/20120

Umeå

Norway Oslo Bergen

Manchester United Kingdom

Visby

Gdansk

Madrid

Lisbon

Ibiza Menorca Palma de Mallorca

Malaga

Belarus

Bulgaria

Varna

Turkey

Greece Skiathos Mytilene Preveza Athens Kos Zakynthos Santorini

Corfu

Antalya Dalaman Alanya Cyprus Rhodes

Catania Malta

Madeira Funchal

Chania

Heraklion

Canary Arrecife Islands Tenerife Norte Fuerteventura Tenerife Sur Las Palmas From Helsinki

Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times

Alanya/Gazipasa 2722 03:45 Alicante 3034 04:25 Amsterdam 1525 02:35 Antalya 2638 03:50 Arrecife 4518 05:55 Athens 2490 03:40 Barcelona 2632 03:55 Bergen 1112 03:30 Berlin 1123 02:00 Billund 1060 01:50 Bologna 1976 03:00 Bordeaux 2417 03:30 Brussels 1651 02:40 Budapest 1481 02:20 Catania 2636 03:45 Chania 2756 03:50 Copenhagen 895 01:40 Corfu 2329 03:25 Dalaman 2639 03:40 Dublin 2030 03:10 Dubrovnik 2027 03:00 Düsseldorf 1512 02:25 Edinburgh 1717 02:40 Eilat 3457 04:45

Samara

Moscow

Naples

Alicante

Yekateringburg Kazan

Minsk

Amsterdam Poland Hannover Berlin Netherlands Warsaw Brussels Germany Düsseldorf Belgium Kraków Prague Frankfurt Czech Republic Paris Stuttgart Vienna Salzburg Munich Zurich France Geneva Innsbruck Austria Budapest Hungary Switzerland Slovenia Bordeaux Venice Ljubljana Verona Lyon Milan Croatia Pula Bologne Nice Pisa Rimini Split Italy Dubrovnik Rome Barcelona

Spain

Portugal

Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times

Ivalo 931 01:35 Joensuu 360 01:00 Jyväskylä 235 00:50 Kajaani 464 01:20 Kemi/Tornio 609 01:35 Kittilä 823 01:25 Kokkola/Pietarsaari 391 01:10 Kuopio 335 01:00 Kuusamo 667 01:15 Mariehamn 282 00:55 Oulu 514 01:05 Rovaniemi 697 01:20 Tampere 143 00:35 Turku 150 00:35 Vaasa 348 00:55

Lithuania

Copenhagen Hamburg

London

Porto

Kajaani

Saint Petersburg Tallinn Tartu Estonia Latvia Riga

Stockholm

Denmark Billund

Dublin Ireland

Kuusamo

Finland Kokkola Kuopio Joensuu Sweden Vaasa Jyväskylä Tampere Turku Helsinki Mariehamn

Gothenburg

Edinburgh

Kemi Oulu

Russia

Paphos Israel Tel Aviv-Yafo

Eilat From Helsinki

Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times

Frankfurt 1543 02:35 Fuerteventura 4578 06:05 Funchal 4310 05:45 Gdansk 768 02:00 Geneva 1994 03:00 Gothenburg 785 01:25 Hamburg 1 172 02:00 Hannover 1278 2:15 Heraklion 2777 03:55 Ibiza 2897 04:00 Innsbruck 1701 02:35 Kazan 1521 02:30 Kos 2620 03:45 Kraków 1 186 02:00 Las Palmas 4700 06:10 Lisbon 3369 04:50 Ljubljana 1713 02:40 London 1863 03:10 Lyon 2081 03:10 Madrid 2950 04:25 Malaga 3357 04:35 Malta 2822 04:15 Manchester 1817 03:00 Menorca 2688 04:05

96 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

From Helsinki

Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times

Milan 1953 03:05 Minsk 734 01:15 Moscow 876 01:40 Munich 1577 02:30 Mytilene 1471 03:35 Naples 2283 03:25 Nice 2202 03:25 Oslo 766 01:30 Palma de Mallorca 2777 04:00 Paphos 2898 04:00 Paris 1900 03:05 Pisa 2093 03:20 Porto 3117 04:20 Prague 1322 02:10 Preveza 2397 03:25 Pula 1865 02:55 Reykjavik 2429 03:50 Rhodes 2668 03:45 Riga 382 00:55 Rimini 1993 03:00 Rome 2235 03:25 Saint Petersburg 301 01:00 Salzburg 1592 02:30 Samara 1698 02:35

From Helsinki

Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times

Santorini 2660 03:40 Skiathos 2353 03:30 Split 1956 02:55 Stockholm 400 01:00 Stuttgart 1637 02:45 Tallinn 101 00:30 Tartu 245 00:50 Tel Aviv-Yafo 3230 04:25 Tenerife Norte 4691 06:10 Tenerife Sur 4745 06:10 Tromsø 1078 01:55 Umeå 459 01:20 Varna 1911 02:55 Venice 1847 02:55 Verona 1903 02:55 Vienna 1462 02:30 Vilnius 633 01:15 Visby 481 01:25 Warsaw 940 01:40 Yekaterinburg 2098 03:05 Zakynthos 2526 03:55 Zurich 1781 02:45

Winter season 2018–2019 Finnair adds flights to popular winter destinations in Lapland, including new non-stop flights from London, Paris, Tallinn, and Zurich London Gatwick – Ivalo 2 weekly flights London Gatwick – Kittilä 1 weekly flight Paris – Kittilä 1 weekly flight Tallinn – Kittilä 1 weekly flight Zurich – Kittilä 1 weekly flight

World of Finnair

Intercontinental destinations

Sapporo

Beijing Seoul South Korea

Xian

China

Nanjing

Nagoya Osaka

Japan Tokyo

Fukuoka

Shanghai

Chongqing Delhi Dubai United Arab Emirates

Guangzhou

India

Hong Kong

Thailand Bangkok

Goa

Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Phuket

Krabi

Singapore

Chicago San Francisco

From Helsinki

Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times

Bangkok 7912 09:45 Beijing 6325 07:55 Chongqing 6736 08:40 Delhi 5229 06:50 Dubai 4537 05:55 Fukuoka 8060 09:30 Goa 6328 08:50 Guangzhou 7693 09:30 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 8510 10:50 Hong Kong 7821 09:35 Krabi 8350 10:20 Nagoya 7780 09:40 Nanjing 7165 09:35 Osaka 7751 09:30 Phuket 8312 10:05 Sapporo 8013 09:35 Seoul 7050 08:40 Shanghai 7410 09:05 Singapore 9272 11:30 Tokyo 7849 09:45 Xian 6421 07:50

New York

United States From Helsinki

Los Angeles

Miami Mexico Puerto Vallarta

Havana

Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times

Chicago Havana Los Angeles Miami New York Puerto Plata Puerto Vallarta Punta Cana San Francisco

7139 09:15 8703 11:15 9016 10:35 8342 11:10 6626 08:45 8410 11:15 9960 12:30 8404 11:05 8724 10:45

Cuba Puerto Plata Punta Cana Dominican Republic

FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE WINGS 97

FINLAND FACTS Nature

188,000 lakes

75%

land covered by forests

Government

1917

Sovereign parliamentary republic

1995 area

390,908 km2*

Monthly avg. temperatures in Helsinki (2017):

Member of EU since January 1995

200 members

elected for four-year terms

Parliament *includes water area

whooper swan

land used for agriculture

Population

5.5

million

Languages SÁ

President

SE

Economy

Education

GDP

(2017*)

€224

FI

billion

the annual change in volume 2.8% *preliminary

88% speak Finnish 5.2% speak Swedish 0.04% speak Sámi

elected every six years; current president is Sauli N ­ iinistö, who was re-elected to a second term in January 2018

Currency

EURO

Fun facts

72%

14

Universities *incl National Defence University

of students have ­studied beyond basic ­education

25

Universities of applied sciences

Consumption of coffee per capita

9.6kg*

12.3 l*

*per year

National food: rye bread

Ice cream consumed per capita *per year

98 BLUE WINGS FEBRUARY 2019

2,000,000* saunas *estimate

(October 2018)

*preliminary

390,000*

overnight stays by foreign travellers

SOURCE: STATISTICS FINLAND ILLUSTRATION: ANGELINA LUZHINA

7%

National bird

T H E A L L- N E W P R I N C E S S F 5 5 E X P E R I E N C E T H E E X C E P T I O N A L®

Boat show 19�–�27.2.2019 Visit us us at at the the Düsseldorf Cannes Yachting Festival, 11th – 16th September 2018

PRINCESS FINLAND +358 500 667754 info@princess.fi www.princess.fi FIND OUT MORE AT PRINCESSYACHTS.COM

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