DC-10 - The Whispering Giant
In the 1970s, the global economy was unstable due to the oil crisis, but Finnair management still made the brave decision to acquire new DC-10 aircraft, which carried nearly 300 passengers, and took flights to North America to a new level. The DC-10s were nicknamed "The Whispering Giant".
Non-stop flights to New York began in 1984, when Finnair acquired its first wide-bodied DC-10.
The new aircraft carried nearly twice the number of passengers in comparison with the DC-8. In addition, its longer range made it possible to plan flights further into America, and the West Coast was soon added to Finnair's route network. The public response to the DC-10 was mainly positive, but some criticism was expressed too. The oil crisis left its mark on the global economy, and not everybody was as trusting and enthusiastic about Finnair's extensive investment. Some claimed it to be a "jumbo blunder", and complained about Finnair wasting taxpayers' money.
Finnair DC-10 at JFK. Picture: Finnair Archives.
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