Finnair Refreshes Inflight Dining Experience with Nordic Cuisine

Finnair has launched a seasonal menu inspired by the flavors of a Nordic summer, including salmon, lingonberries, rhubarb, and nettle, available until October 29.

The Finnish flag carrier is refreshing the meals in its complimentary in-flight service on long-haul flights, as it does two or three times a year, and debuting fresh dishes on its paid, pre-order menu for economy travelers on shorter flights.

Photo: Courtesy of Finnair

On long-haul flights, passengers in business class will start their meals with appetizers such as salmon sashimi, shrimp tartlets, and summer vegetables.

They can then dig into a main course of slow-cooked beef in dough crust with mushroom duxelle, root purée, roasted vestibules, and red wine sour or panko-coated rainbow trout, served with sautéed leeks and roasted vegetables with horseradish and mustard.

Photo: Business Class, long haul menu. Courtesy of Finnair

The third main course option is route-specific, such as vegetable korma and paneer cheese and basmati rice on departures to Delhi (DEL) and spicy chicken stew with steamed rice, sesame seeds, and chili on departures to Seoul (ICN).

Finnair has also adjusted the menu and meal schedule of its midnight flights from Helsinki (HEL) to Singapore (SIN), Nagoya (NGO), Hong Kong (HKG), and Shanghai (PVG). Tired business class passengers will be offered a light meal after they board, such as beef Burgundy stew or spinach and ricotta tortelloni with nettle pesto and pine nuts.

Photo: Business Class menu. Courtesy of Finnair

As they wake up on the other side of the world, they’ll be served brunch with breakfast-style starters and desserts. In business class, travelers will start brunch with overnight oats and Finnish air-dried ham. They’ll then have the choice of traditional Finnish meat pies with pepper sausage, pan-fried salmon and scrambled eggs, quark pancakes with berry compote, vanilla sauce, and hazelnut crumble.

On longer European routes, Finnair is debuting cinnamon and blueberry buns.

“We emphasize modern Nordic taste in all Finnair meals,” said Sami Oksava, Development Chef at Finnair. “Business Class meals on our European routes also include more Nordic flavors, like rhubarb compote, nettle pesto, and lingonberries. Finnish summer classic smoked vendace with dill mayonnaise is also available.”

Photo: Short Haul menu. Courtesy of Finnair

Business class travelers and those in premium economy on Helsinki departures can pre-select their main course online through Finnair’s website or app. Look for “manage my booking.”

New items are also coming to the paid menu for economy passengers on shorter flights. Snacks and beverages such as blueberry muffins, salty licorice, and summery rosé wine can be purchased onboard, while passengers can pre-order more substantial hot meals or sandwiches.

Photo: Premium Economy menu. Courtesy of Finnair

Options depend on the departure city but may include grilled chicken fillets with carrot spaghetti, carrot puree, pea pesto or stewed beef with fried potatoes, onions, green beans, and licorice sauce.

Passengers on almost all flights will be offered complimentary blueberry juice.

More information about meals on Finnair flights, including dietary requirements and allergens, can be found on the airline’s website’s ‘Nordic Kitchen’ section.