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Finnair Airbus A350 in flight

Photo: AleGranholm · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

National airline of Finland (Europe–Asia–North America network)

Finnair

AY / FIN

Finnair is the national airline of Finland and a member of the oneworld alliance, with a single hub at Helsinki-Vantaa linking Europe with Asia and North America. It operates 55 aircraft itself, with a further 24 aircraft flying on its behalf via Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra).

79

Aircraft in the fleet

100

Destinations

1923

Founded

Headquarters

Vantaa, Finland

Main hub

Helsinki-Vantaa

Tips for applying as cabin crew

The vast majority of cabin crew are based in Helsinki and must be able to reach the airport within one hour when on standby duty. Fluent English is required, Finnish is highly valued, and other languages are an advantage. Recruitment opens in specific windows, and training at the Finnair Flight Academy lasts six to nine weeks, with no specific pay for the training period.

Fleet figures as of 31 December 2025 — indicative (public sources, they change over time); check with the airline before an interview.

Cabin crew recruitment at Finnair

Conditions stated by the airline

  • Minimum age of 18
  • Completed secondary education (general or vocational)
  • Fluent English; Finnish highly valued; other languages an advantage
  • Minimum height of 160 cm and reach of 218 cm barefoot
  • At least one year's experience in hospitality or customer service
  • Good general health and ability to work irregular and night hours, in accordance with EASA Part-MED PNC standards and Finnair's own regulations
  • Normal colour vision and hearing; distance visual acuity of 0.7 or better in both eyes, with or without correction
  • Able to swim 40 metres
  • In uniform: visible tattoos covered and visible piercings removed (earrings excepted)
  • Clean criminal record
  • Valid EU, EEA or Swiss passport allowing free travel worldwide
  • Ability to live and work in Finland on a long-term basis and to reach Helsinki airport within one hour when on standby
  • Team spirit and a warm attitude towards customers and colleagues

Selection steps stated

  1. Video assignment
  2. Online tests
  3. Medical questionnaire (Finnair Health Services), with a two-part medical aptitude assessment
  4. Assessment day with interview and group exercises
  5. Invitation to the Finnair Flight Academy (six to nine weeks of training)

The criteria only apply when recruitment is open; the page gives no dates or deadlines, presents the stages as subject to variation, and the Workday portal referred to in the instructions could not be accessed.

Official recruitment page ↗

No Finnair cabin crew offer in this morning's collection.

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History

Finnair was founded in 1923 under the name Aero O/Y and describes itself as one of the oldest airlines in the world still in operation; its first flight, a seaplane service between Helsinki and Tallinn, dates from March 1924. The trading name Finnair was adopted in 1953 and became the company's official name in 1968. The airline entered the jet age in 1961 with the Caravelle, then opened routes to New York (1969), Bangkok (1976), Tokyo (1983) and Beijing (1988). It joined oneworld in 1999 and received its first A350 in 2015. The 2020–2021 pandemic resulted in heavy losses, and the closure of Russian airspace in 2022 forced it to suspend certain services to Asia. The Finnish state remains the majority shareholder, holding 55.68% of the capital as of March 2026 according to Wikipedia.

Frequently asked questions

What are the requirements for becoming cabin crew at Finnair?+

The official page requires candidates to be at least 18 years old, to have completed secondary education, to speak fluent English, to be at least 160 cm tall and able to reach 218 cm barefoot, to have at least one year's experience in hospitality or customer service, to be able to swim 40 metres, and to meet the EASA Part-MED PNC medical criteria (including a visual acuity of at least 0.7 in both eyes, with or without correction). A clean criminal record is also required.

Can a French candidate apply to Finnair?+

The page requires an EU, EEA or Swiss passport allowing free travel worldwide, as well as the ability to live and work in Finland on a long-term basis. Crew members mostly live in Helsinki and must be able to reach the airport within one hour when on standby. English is compulsory, and other languages, including Finnish, are an advantage.

How does the selection process work at Finnair?+

The official FAQ cites, by way of example, a video assignment, online tests, a medical questionnaire followed by a two-part aptitude assessment carried out by Finnair Health Services, then an assessment day with an interview and group exercises. It states that these stages may vary and that recruitment is only open during specific periods.

How does the initial training work?+

After a successful selection process, candidates are invited to the Finnair Flight Academy, in Vantaa, for training lasting six to nine weeks depending on their aviation experience, with attendance on site compulsory. It is free of charge but not separately paid, and successful completion does not guarantee employment. Annual safety and service training then continues throughout the career.

What contracts and pay does the airline publish?+

Full-time contracts represent around 110 hours per month, and part-time contracts between 45 and 90 hours. According to the careers page, the monthly base salary for a full-time position ranges from around 1,700 to 2,800 euros gross depending on experience, with additional allowances (Sunday, night, daily allowances) representing around 30 to 40% of the base salary. It follows the collective agreement between PALTA and AKT, which recognises prior cabin crew experience.

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