Finnair Plus - Finnair MD11 at LAX

I just landed at LAX and was astonished to see Finnair MD11 parked at the airport.

Anybody know what's going on?

The FC Barcelona football team has chartered an AY MD11 for their US promotional tour, AFAIK.

Wonder you gets to sit in the back economy cabin? ;)

The FC Barcelona football team has chartered an AY MD11 for their US promotional tour, AFAIK.

Wow.

A high quality video of AY MD11 arriving at LAX:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSiANfTBOqo

Wonder you gets to sit in the back economy cabin? ;)

Actually there was a story about this on the weekend's Helsingin Sanomat (Saturday I think) - according to it there are well over 100 people in the actual entourage. The players get to sit (and sleep) in the biz seats with the support staff etc. are sentenced to coach. Still everybody should at least get a vacant seat next to them... There were also some words about the strict diet and timetable the players need to adhere onboard to adjust themselves for the time difference and be in top shape for the matches. I just wonder who will actually prepare the courses and how - airline galleys aren't exactly your regular kitchens.

More pictures about FC Barcelona and MD-11 on page 12 of Finnair's latest staff magazine (in Finnish):

http://bit.ly/2VUUtn

Is Iberia really so bad that FC Barcelona uses a different airline to transport their team and entourage :D Don't think there is any other EU country further away from Spain than Finland...

Is Iberia really so bad that FC Barcelona uses a different airline to transport their team and entourage :D Don't think there is any other EU country further away from Spain than Finland...

Actually I think it is more a question of spare capacity and who made the lowest or most sensible offer than of actual in-flight comfort. It won't anyway be your average scheduled flight, but a special charter where the main pax are millionaires - so service will be top notch anyway.

It depends on how you calculate distances between two countries, but if you think of capitals (or rather main airports) LCA is further away from MAD than HEL, thus Cyprus would be further as well...

Is Iberia really so bad that FC Barcelona uses a different airline to transport their team and entourage :D Don't think there is any other EU country further away from Spain than Finland...

Maybe FC Barcelona wanted do their US tour with style and MD-11 is nothing but style.

Maybe FC Barcelona wanted do their US tour with style and MD-11 is nothing but style.

Hehehe ^

Glad to stumble on this thread--I saw this plane at SEA a few weeks back and was scratching my head. Looking back, that date definitely coincided with Barca being in town. I'll be able to sleep better at night now that the mystery is solved for me.

Is Iberia really so bad that FC Barcelona uses a different airline to transport their team and entourage :D Don't think there is any other EU country further away from Spain than Finland...

Does Iberia even do charters?

Does Iberia even do charters?

I think any airline does charters (or dry and wet leases) as long as there's spare capacity and the price is right to make it worthwhile.

Glad to stumble on this thread--I saw this plane at SEA a few weeks back and was scratching my head. Looking back, that date definitely coincided with Barca being in town. I'll be able to sleep better at night now that the mystery is solved for me.

:D:rolleyes:

I think any airline does charters (or dry and wet leases) as long as there's spare capacity and the price is right to make it worthwhile.

Assuming all the relevant unions agree, at least with some Northern European airlines... :D

Assuming all the relevant unions agree, at least with some Northern European airlines... :D

Touche! You know it would be very threatening for the job security of a Finnish pilot if AY starts flying around Spanish football teams on a regular basis. Maybe even renting a Spanish FO to help.