Finnair Oyj - Company Announcement

FINNAIR'S PRESIDENT & CEO RESIGNS

FINNAIR PLC STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE	7 AUGUST 2009 AT 0901 
Finnair's President & CEO Jukka Hienonen has resigned from his                  
post.                                                                           
“My four years in Finnair's service has included both periods of success        
as well as the increasingly adverse development of the entire sector, and now a 
clear change of course is required. I am not satisfied with the results         
achieved; the rate of change has been insufficient,” says President & CEO       
Hienonen.                                                                       
“Many structures as well as the company's culture have been formed in           
totally different conditions. With these we cannot do well in the present       
competitive environment, but changing them has proved to be extremely difficult.
Some personnel organisations have shown no willingness to adapt.”               
“Finnair has                                                                    
a good and effective strategy, on which it would be possible to build future    
success. It will require a lot of work and also a completely different way of   
thinking in terms of working conditions. Finnair has many expert personnel and  
an excellent management team, with whom I have been able to work. I wish to     
extend to them my warm thanks.”                                    
                                                                                
Finnair's Board of Directors regrets Jukka                                      
Hienonen's resignation.                                                         
“The decision is entirely President & CEO Hienonen's                            
own. I am sorry at his decision, because cooperation between Jukka and the board
has always been excellent,” says Christoffer Taxell, Chairman of Finnair's Board
of Directors.                                                                   
                                                                                
Jukka Hienonen continues as President & CEO for the time being.                 
The period of notice in Hienonen contract is six months. Because Hienonen's     
resignation is at his own request, no severance pay will be paid.               
Finnair Plc                                                                     
Communications                                                                  
7 August 2009