Flying into Friendship – how travelling can bring people together
Air travel isn’t just about getting from A to B – it’s also about the moments in between. In Finland, Valentine's Day (Ystävänpäivä) is all about celebrating friendship rather than just romantic relationships. So, this Valentine’s Day, we celebrate the friendships that have taken off onboard our flights. Meet Arnold and Jarmo, and Aleksandra and Martin, two pairs of passengers whose encounters in the sky led to meaningful friendships on the ground.
“Does it fit you?” – a friendship born over seatbelts
It all started with a simple question. In November 2021, Arnold and Jarmo found themselves seated next to each other on a Finnair Embraer 190 flight from Helsinki to Brussels. They both struggled with their seatbelts, leading Arnold to ask, “Does it fit you?” That one sentence sparked a conversation that lasted from takeoff to touchdown.
Jarmo, a Finnish businessman living in Belgium, has a family name so quintessentially Finnish that his Belgian colleagues simply called him “The Finnish Man.” Arnold, a deputy mayor from Belgium, had studied in Lahti and tried to learn Finnish. The two bonded over shared connections to Finland and Belgium, mutual humour and a love of good conversation.
When Jarmo later moved back to Finland, the two kept in touch. Their friendship led Arnold to visit Rovaniemi, where Jarmo introduced him to a reindeer farmer and, of course, Santa Claus himself. Now, Arnold is planning a summer trip to Finland and a long-overdue visit to his flight-seatmate-turned-friend. As Arnold puts it: “I know, you Finns have this rule: ‘Never talk to strangers… unless you’re naked with them in a sauna.’ But sometimes, a flight is all it takes.”
Arnold had the chance to meet Santa Claus during his visit to Rovaniemi.
An ear-popping start to a lasting connection
For Aleksandra and Martin, friendship took off in a moment of mild discomfort. Martin, an IT scientist, was battling a blocked ear during their Finnair flight. Aleksandra, a PR agency owner and model, offered suggestions to help – none of which worked. Fortunately, a helpful cabin crew member had the perfect solution, clearing Martin’s ear and setting the stage for a conversation.
Aleksandra hopes to see Martin again soon.
From that moment, the two clicked. Despite living in different countries – Martin in Finland and Aleksandra in Estonia – their friendship continued beyond the flight. They visited each other’s cities, met each other’s families, and even exchanged travel updates from across the world. “Hi from Texas! I’ll be flying back to Europe via Germany and Finland. Want to meet up for coffee?” one message would read. “I’m in Miami until Christmas, I’ll call you before New Year’s Eve,” another would reply.
Though life has kept them busy in recent years, they know their friendship is always just a quick Finnair flight away. “Whenever we miss each other, we remember: Helsinki-Tallinn is only minutes apart.”
Making friends on board – even on a Finnish airline
Finns aren’t exactly famous for small talk. But as these stories show, when you’re thousands of metres above the ground, even the most reserved travellers can find common ground. Whether it’s a blocked ear, or a simple “hello,” flights offer a unique opportunity to connect with people you might never have met otherwise.
So, the next time you find yourself on our flight, take a moment to look around. The person next to you might just become your next great friend. Or at the very least, they might know a reindeer farmer in Rovaniemi.
Happy Valentine’s Day and see you on board!