Finnair File photo: VCG

Finland-based airline Finnair told the Global Times on Friday that it condemns all forms of discrimination and inappropriate behavior when asked to comment on discriminatory actions of Miss Finland and some Finish members of parliament (MPs). It also noted that an old advertisement that some netizens found discriminatory does not reflect its values, and vowed to ensure that its visual materials reflect cultural understanding, respect, and modern standards.

The airlines' statement came after some netizens have criticized the Finnair advertisement celebrating the launch of a Beijing route, featuring a cartoon character wearing a bamboo hat and with a "slanted eyes" expression.  

The controversial Finnair advertisement produced in 1988 featuring a cartoon character wearing a bamboo hat and with a "slanted eyes" expression. Photo: from X

In response to the Global Times' request for comment, Finnair said that the advertisement was produced in 1988, and reflects the visual style and advertising conventions of that era. 

"Looking at it today we fully understand the concerns and criticisms it raises," the airline said on Friday. "We want to emphasize that this content does not reflect Finnair's values."

On Thursday, an X user released a post accompanied by two photos of the Finnair's advertisement and Miss Finland as well as several politicians posting derogatory images, saying that "Finnair. Your ad is also discriminatory. racist racists."

When asked its view of the public reactions and comments from netizens, Finnair told the Global Times that "we take the feedback from Chinese netizens very seriously and with genuine concern. China has long been an important market for Finnair, and the trust of our Chinese customers matter greatly to us.

"As we have stated earlier, images circulating on social media can be harmful to Finland's country image and to our work in key international markets. We fully understand the sensitivity of this matter, and we appreciate the feedback we have received," it said.

Finnair's statement also came amid a widening racism scandal involving Miss Finland and some Finish MPs. Miss Finland, Sarah Dzafce, was stripped of her title three months after winning it, following criticism over her sharing a racially charged social media post in late November that showed her making a "slanted eye gesture." Two Finish MPs also posted images of themselves on social media doing the same gesture, saying it was in support of Dzafce.

Asked how the company see the controversial actions of Miss Finland and the MPs, Finnair said that "as we have stated before, the remarks and actions of individual Finnish politicians do not represent Finnair's values. We firmly condemn all forms of discrimination and inappropriate behavior."

The company further stated that "Finnair is committed to fostering mutual respect and positive international relations, including with China, which remains a significant and valued market for us."