Aero Oy, which was later rebranded as Finnair, is one of the oldest surviving airlines in the world. It was established in 1923 and started up domestic flights alongside routes to the Nordic and Baltic regions. During World War Two, Aero Oy managed to continue its operations. After the war, thanks to its geographic location, Finnair was able to start up several routes to the Soviet Union. Later, the airline was the first carrier in the world to connect Europe with Asia via a polar route, which is considerably shorter than the conventional routes via Russia or the Persian Gulf. Flights to Asia became Finnair’s main source of income at a time when China was opening up the ‘new Silk Road’. With more than 140 images, this book charts Finnair’s history from its beginning and shows how it has survived. Series: Airlines Series, vol 5
