Finnair AGM 2019: Speeches by the Chairman of the Board and the CEO

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Chairman of the Board Jouko Karvinen: Responsibility and active work to decrease CO2 emissions are important for Finnair 

CEO Topi Manner: Our target is sustainable, profitable growth  

Jouko Karvinen, Chairman of Finnair’s Board of Directors, told in his opening speech of the Finnair Annual General Meeting today that the number of Finnair shareholders has increased by approximately 8,000 since last year. This speaks to the importance our airline and its future have for Finland and its economy,” Karvinen said.  

In his speech, Karvinen emphasised the role of sustainability as Finnair continues to develop its business.  

Responsibility for our common planet is more important than ever before. Our generation and many before us inherited from their parents and grandparents a better world, a world that was safer, healthier and offered more and better options. Now this long chain of positive heritage is at danger of breaking. Our common home is at risk, and we all must do our share to decrease emissions,” Karvinen stated.  

Aviation is the first industry in the world to agree on global emissions reductions targets. From next year onwards, aviation is committed to carbon neutral growth, even as flying continues to grow,” Karvinen pointed out.” We have done a lot, but we can do more. It is time to show the example, to do and achieve more, together.” 

Finnair’s CEO, Topi Manner, told the AGM he had spent his first months as a CEO to get to know Finnair thoroughly, meeting hundreds of current and former Finnair employees.  

“A big thank you goes to everyone in the Finnair team for last year’s achievements. Finnair has a competent, committed team who care about the company and about each other. Finnair employees have a strong sense of community, and this culture is a great asset for a service company,” said Manner.  

Manner continued the responsibility theme in his speech and said Finnair is targeting sustainable, profitable growth. He sees exciting opportunities in developing collaboration with digital players.  

Responsible business is and continues to be important for Finnair. Our target is sustainable, profitable growth. Our Asian strategy forms a solid foundation for building our future,” Manner said. 

Finnair is a growth company and in addition to Asia, I see exciting new opportunities as we develop cooperation with other digital players. Finnair is a small airline in a global perspective, but by cooperating with others we can be larger than our size. Especially in the digital world, agility is an advantage.”

Further information:
Finnair Media Desk, +358 9 818 4020, comms(a)finnair.com 
www.finnair.com, www.company.finnair.com 
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Images: gallery.finnair.com  
Finnair blog: www.bluewings.finnair.com

About Finnair
Finnair flies between Asia, Europe and North America with an emphasis on fast connections via Helsinki, carrying more than thirteen million passengers annually. Finnair's extensive network connects 20 cities in Asia and 8 cities in North America with over 100 destinations in Europe. The airline, a pioneer in sustainable flying, was the first European airline to fly the next-generation, eco-smart Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and it is the first airline listed in the Leadership Index of the worldwide Carbon Disclosure Project. The only Nordic carrier with a 4-star Skytrax ranking, Finnair has also won the World Airline Award for Best Airline Northern Europe for the past nine years running. Finnair is a member of oneworld, the alliance of the world's leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience to frequent international travellers.

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