Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is celebrating 20 years of E-Jets service with Finnair and Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra). The anniversary, commemorated by the gathering of Embraer, Finnair and Norra executives at Helsinki Airport for a celebratory event, is seen as a milestone in European aviation.
Retracing the Historic Route
Finnair’s first Embraer E170 revenue flight from Helsinki to Oslo took off on 01 October 2005, with Norra flying Embraer aircraft on behalf of Finnair since October 2012.
To celebrate the anniversary, flight AY915, which was assigned call-sign ‘Fin20Y’, retraced the historic route to Oslo.
Speaking of the anniversary, Christine Rovelli, chief revenue officer at Finnair said,
For 20 years, the Embraer fleet has been essential to regional connectivity, feeding traffic into our Helsinki hub. Operated by our partner Norra, the fleet continues to deliver excellent punctuality and reliability. We’re now renewing the cabins to further enhance the customer experience.
Echoing these sentiments, Marie-Louise Philippe, senior vice president sales & marketing, head of region Europe and Central Asia, Embraer Commercial Aviation, said:
Flying together since 2005, our partnership with Finnair and Norra is a testament to the enduring value of the E-Jets family. These aircraft have delivered unmatched performance, efficiency, and passenger satisfaction across Europe. This is a moment of high emotion and great pride for the Embraer team, working in partnership with Finnair and Norra to ensure a reliable service for the last 20 years. We are proud to celebrate this milestone and look forward to many more years of collaboration and success together.”
Juha Ojala, Managing Director at Norra, added:
Norra has succeeded with Embraer for 20 years. The E-Jets are the reliable backbone of our operations, enabling us to deliver efficient, high-quality regional service to Finnair’s customers. We’re honoured to be a part of this journey and to celebrate this milestone together.
A Day of Celebration
In addition to a special send-off for flight AY915, Helsinki airport also hosted a celebration at the gate where speeches were made and gifts were given to passengers.
Embraer is a leading manufacturer of commercial jets with parts distribution centres across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Finnair, one of the oldest airlines in continuous operation, was voted the Best Airline in Northern Europe at the Skytrax Awards 15 times in a row. Finland’s national airline, Finnair is also the only airline with year-round direct flights to Lapland.
Norra, founded in 1993, is Finnair’s strategic partner and boasts a fleet of 24 aircraft with around 750 employees.
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