Finnair shuts Aussie office after regional manager made redundant

HELSINKI, FINLAND - OCTOBER 24, 2019: Airplanes in the apron and on taxi ways at Helsinki Vantaa international airport on a cloudy autumn day.

Finnair has shut down its Aussie office with the regional manager for Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia announcing that his position has been made redundant in a global restructure.

Finnair’s regional manager, Arnaud Michelin, said that his departure doesn’t mean Finnair is leaving the local market and that there are lots of developments happening in the background with the airline.

Arnaud Michelin, regional manager ANZ, New Caledonia

Michelin’s last day will be 30 December 2022 and he said there realistically “will not be any Finnair representative in Australia starting 1 of January 2023.”

The main point of contact for the Aussie industry will be Finnair’s Agent Helpdesk, which provides help seven days a week.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for the tremendous support you have given Finnair, my team and myself over the years,” Michelin said.

Michelin commended the work of his colleagues over the past few difficult years and praised the culture of the travel industry.

“It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside all of you,” Michelin said.

“Our industry is such a vibrant and diverse community. I have had the chance to meet some wonderful human beings with whom I share the same drive, passion and values.

“To all of you I want to express my deepest gratitude because you have allowed me to be myself, to show what I am capable of, to grow and be better at my job. Thank you. For those who know me beyond our professional relationship, you all know how much that means to me.”

Michelin also asked that anyone who has heard of jobs within the travel industry to reach out on LinkedIn as he’d like to stay in the industry.

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