Airplane food is a topic that rarely fails to spark controversy. For some, it’s a culinary catastrophe best avoided—these passengers would rather endure hunger than touch those reheated meals. Yet, there’s a nostalgic faction that yearns for those very same in-flight offerings. As travel becomes a distant memory for many of us, frequent flyers are reminiscing about the joys of pre-packaged vegetables and bread rolls. If you happen to belong to this peculiar group—and I must admit, I find it a bit unusual—I have exciting news to share. Finnish airline Finnair has launched a new venture, selling its airplane meals in grocery stores, allowing you to indulge without ever stepping onto a plane. Indeed, 2020 continues to serve up its fair share of surprises.
For those currently residing in Finland, I suggest you make a beeline for K-Citymarket Tammisto in Vantaa, just outside Helsinki. This supermarket is the first to showcase Finnair’s line of business-class delicacies, aptly named ‘Taste of Finnair.’ Here, you’ll find a tantalizing assortment of dishes inspired by Nordic-Japanese fusion cuisine: picture reindeer meatballs, Arctic char, and teriyaki beef. Priced at about 10 euros per meal, it’s a reasonably indulgent escape into the world of air travel.
You may be wondering why an airline would venture into the grocery realm with its in-flight food. The answer, as I discovered, is both practical and steeped in sentiment. Finnair is striving to keep its culinary team employed during these unprecedented times—after all, many airline workers have faced layoffs. “We want to offer the opportunity for a Finnair experience and a touch of everyday luxury at home, especially now that travel is restricted,” explained Marika Nieminen, Vice President of Finnair Kitchen. “At the same time, it preserves jobs for our chefs in Vantaa, giving them a new avenue for work.”
As the pandemic took hold, Finnair found itself in the difficult position of temporarily laying off a significant portion of its workforce—over 7,000 employees before the crisis. Thus, ‘Taste of Finnair’ emerged not just as an innovative culinary offering but also as a response to the 60% of Finns now working from home, contributing to a soaring demand for takeaway meals. Interestingly, these supermarket versions of their in-flight meals will contain less spice and salt than what you would normally find during your flight. This adjustment is made with the understanding that altitude affects taste perception.
So, whether you’re a passionate foodie craving that in-flight experience or simply curious to reminisce about the days when air travel was routine, Finnair’s latest initiative presents a unique opportunity to savor a little piece of airborne nostalgia from the comfort of your own home.