Departure from Haneda at night and arrival in Helsinki in the early morning. If you are lucky, you can see the Northern Lights on this 13-hour Arctic route. Summer schedule for Haneda – Helsinki route (March 29 – October 24, 2026) Flight AY062: Departs Haneda (21:50) – Helsinki (04:40), daily.
Flight AY061: Departs Helsinki (18:30) – Haneda (13:50), daily
AY5072/AY5073 (Boeing 777-300ER), code-shared with JAL, will be operated five times a week. The outbound flight, AY062 (Haneda→Helsinki) will take the so-called “Arctic Route,” a northbound route through the Arctic Circle. The outbound flight, AY062 (Haneda→Helsinki), is the shortest route between Japan and Europe, but currently takes approximately 13 hours one way, slightly longer than usual because it bypasses the Russian airspace. Each seat in the business class cabin will receive a “Northern route diploma,” a certificate commemorating the flight to the North Pole (88 degrees 30 minutes 00 seconds north latitude, 0 degrees 8 minutes 23.1 seconds east longitude), to create a special atmosphere. On the other hand, the return flight, AY061 (Helsinki to Haneda), will mainly take a southbound route from Eastern Europe via Turkey and Central Asia. The flight will avoid Russian airspace and ride the strong westerly jet stream flowing from west to east, taking about 13 hours or more. While the “Arctic route” between Japan and Europe has advantages in terms of flight time and fuel efficiency, it is also subject to communication problems caused by solar flares (explosions on the surface of the sun) in high latitude airspace. Therefore, each airline usually decides whether to fly northbound or southbound based on a comprehensive assessment of wind and weather conditions. In fact, the appearance rate of the Northern Lights, a popular sightseeing attraction in Northern Europe, is also greatly related to the sun’s activity. Auroras are a natural phenomenon in which electrically charged plasma particles flying from the sun are attracted by the magnetic field near the earth’s north and south poles and collide with gases in the atmosphere, resulting in mysterious red and green light emissions. A Japanese CA told me, “In the past few years, the sun has become more active, making it easier for auroras to appear, and it is said that this is a “good year” for aurora observation. During our flight, we were able to see the aurora borealis from our in-flight window just above the Arctic Circle.
Elegant in-flight meals served on Iittala tableware. Introducing the newly renewed menu. On long-haul flights including Japan, in-flight meals are served twice: dinner (1 to 2 hours after takeoff) and breakfast (1 to 2 hours before landing). In business class, the meal consists of an appetizer, a choice of main course, and dessert, and is served on tableware and cutlery from Iittala, the proud Finnish tableware brand. The main course for dinner is a choice of several meat or fish dishes, and the appetizers include a variety of salted, pickled, and fermented ingredients, which are unique to Finland’s culinary wisdom and traditions developed to survive the harsh winters. The menu is updated two to three times a year, and the winter/spring menu we were served this time was just renewed on January 28. The main dishes are mainly Japanese for flights departing from Japan and Western for flights departing from Helsinki, and can be selected in advance via the official Finnair website or app at least 24 hours prior to the flight departure time. For example, the main course this time was “Sukiyaki with Beef and Mushrooms with Rice and Vegetables with Japanese Prickly Ash” on the flight departing from Haneda. The main dish selected on the flight from Helsinki was “Salmon with Fennel, Spelt and Lobster Risotto with Vegetables and Pernod Saffron Sauce. Both were delicious, and the chef’s attention to detail was evident in the sauces and vegetables that were served with a twist of aroma and texture, while making the most of the ingredients themselves. The same menu is available for flights departing from Narita/Haneda and a different menu is available for flights departing from Kansai/Centrair due to the difference in the catering company. We hope you will try the typical Scandinavian ingredients such as salmon and gibier. Finnair also places special emphasis on its extensive drink selection, including carefully selected wines and its famous blueberry juice. The first welcome champagne served immediately after boarding is Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut MV, produced by the Royal Warrant House of England, which has been in business for over 200 years. Finnair’s signature cocktail, the “Northern Blush,” is a sweet, sour, and sharp drink based on Finnish lingonberries, gin, and orange peel, and was inspired by the Nordic sunset (and the blush of a shy Finn). It features sunset colors. For beer, we recommend Sanderslager, the national beer of Finland. Also, “Mac Brewery Chinook IPA,” brewed in the Tuusula district right next to Helsinki Airport, is delicious with a citrus aroma and moderate bitterness. In addition, the famous “blueberry juice” is a must-try for both those who don’t like to drink alcohol and those who do. It is Finnair’s original juice made from wild blueberries grown in Finland’s forests and other European products. It has antioxidant and nutritional properties, and is surprisingly light and not too sweet, so it is very easy to drink. Business Class passengers can also enjoy a wide range of snacks, including snacks, chocolates, cheese, fruit, sandwiches, and other light meals to keep you entertained on long flights.
Premium Economy and Economy Class also feature many innovations for comfort The latest Airbus A350-900 aircraft also features renewed Premium Economy Class and Economy Class. Although there are only 24 seats in Pre-Eco, the seat pitch is 96.5 cm, 17.5 cm longer than that of regular economy seats, and there is more legroom. The arrangement is 2-4-2, with an armrest on each seat, so there is no need to worry about bumping arms with the seat next to you. The amount of recline is also expanded to 8 inches, and when used in combination with the full-length leg rests that support the entire leg, it is likely to provide a comfortable night’s sleep. Other features include a touch-screen personal monitor that is at least 13 inches long, a cocktail table and a large eating table, a universal power supply and USB Type-A port, a reading light next to the headrest, and a pocket for storing small items. Pre-Eco passengers also receive a Marimekko amenity pouch made of kraft paper and are provided with an eye mask, earplugs, and toothbrush set. If you go to the refreshment corner at the front of the cabin, you can freely enjoy snacks, drinks including alcohol, and light meals. The economy class cabin has 211 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. The seats are the widest in the company’s fleet, with a seat pitch of 78.7 cm and an ergonomically designed seat and recliner with Marimekko cushions to support passengers on long flights. A 12-inch personal monitor is provided in front, and the table can be opened in two positions to serve as a cocktail table. All seats are equipped with USB Type-A ports. As in other classes, two meals and a drink are provided on long-haul Economy Class flights, but if you get hungry, you can order from your smartphone via the in-flight ordering system and pay with a credit card to enjoy snacks, light meals, additional alcohol, and more.
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