Finnair faced a double crisis in 2024 and 2025, navigating post-pandemic market pressures and a protracted labor dispute, with CEO Turkka Kuusisto crediting Finnish sisu—a cultural ethos of perseverance—for the airline’s resilience.
In 2024, Finnair transported 11.7 million passengers, a 6 percent increase from 2023, while revenue rose 2 percent, driven by ancillary income. Passenger revenue grew 0.3 percent amid a 5.8 percent rise in available seat kilometers (ASK), bolstered by reallocating narrow-body fleet capacity from wet leases to British Airways to European and domestic routes. Comparable operating profit fell 18 percent due to expenses outpacing revenue, exacerbated by declining travel demand, lower ticket fares after 2023 peaks, increased market capacity, and weak Asian demand amid Finland’s uncertain economy.
Kuusisto assumed the CEO role on April 24, 2024, succeeding Topi Manner, with COO Jaakko Schildt serving as interim deputy from January 15 to April 23. The frequent flyer program shifted to Avios currency in spring 2024, partnering with around 100 entities.
Early 2025 brought escalation: a dispute with the Finnish Aviation Union led to over 1,300 flight cancellations in Q2, stemming from demands for salary hikes, improved shift schedules, part-time support, and mental health initiatives. Ground staff strikes at Finavia airports disrupted operations for six months, straining customer service with unresolved refunds, missed connections, and automated responses. Industry observers urge Finnair leadership to summon sisu amid high demand and intensifying competition to restore punctuality and reliability.