Finnair has rolled out its autumn-winter in-flight menu across European and long-haul flights, starting October 22 and running through January 27, 2026.
The standout move is the strategic ingredient work and route-specific service design.
Celeriac is the anchor.
It appears smoked, pureed, and roasted with Västerbotten cheese across multiple dishes.
Development Chef Sami Oksava calls it “the season’s classic,” but it’s really the vehicle for the entire menu’s warm, earthy direction.
Long-Haul Business Class
The new offering combines Finnish base flavours with Japanese-influenced execution.
Business Class starters vary by flight, either roasted teriyaki scampi with pickled cucumber and shimeji mushrooms, or teriyaki salmon tataki with rainbow trout roe and apple vinegar jelly.
Both use Japanese techniques but maintain Nordic ingredients.
Main courses offer two permanent options. Beef entrecôte comes with dill sauce and smoked celeriac purée.
The fish option is pike Wallenberg with roasted pike perch and lobster crayfish sauce. Every flight also has a third route specific option.
Passengers can pre-select mains up to 24 hours before departure.
Desserts rotate between autumnal baked apple with cinnamon mousse or tiramisu with strawberries, plus a cheese selection with fig compote.
Route-Specific
Finnair openly states that they design meals around “route destinations, travel lengths, and flight schedules.”
On late departure flights to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, they lead with a light meal in Business Class, then serve brunch before landing.
Premium Economy gets beef meatballs or Japanese-style chicken with a second lighter meal mid-flight.
Economy gets a complimentary hot meal with one glass of wine.
Snacking and Retail Refresh
Pre-order European economy options now include sandwich combos, breakfast combos with salami and cheese bread or smoked salmon rye, and light meals like chicken Caesar or rainbow trout salad.
They’ve added dried mango snacks and nut bars to the onboard retail program. Decaffeinated coffee is now available, and they’re offering a 1-euro discount on drink and snack combos.
On European Airbus flights starting late November, passengers can order through their phone and have items delivered to their seats.
The Moomin Moment
Finnair is celebrating the Moomins’ 80th anniversary with limited-edition Fazer Blue chocolate bars in Moomin wrappers and Moomin sweet boxes on long-haul flights.
Finnair’s strategy here is to design seasonal experiences around passenger fatigue, offer choice through pre-selection, and anchor menus in regional Finnish ingredients and cultural moments.
Images courtesy of Finnair.
Nik founded Inflight Feed in 2012, blending his passion for inflight dining with over a decade of experience in the airline industry. For the past 13 years, he has travelled the world, exploring and reviewing airline meals across countless carriers.
CNN Travel, The New York Times, and BBC World News have featured Nik’s expertise. When he’s not on the ground, you’ll find him at 35,000 feet, camera in hand, capturing the unique flavours of air travel. Follow his inflight meal adventures on Instagram: @InflightFeed.