LSG Sky Chefs to acquire Finnair’s catering business

Neu-Isenburg, Germany/Helsinki, Finland – LSG Sky Chefs and Finnair have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on LSG Sky Chefs acquiring Finnair’s catering operations. The acquisition would comprise the entire share capital of Finnair Catering Ltd. and Finncatering Ltd. Finnair would continue to buy its flight catering services from Finnair Catering Ltd., which transfers under LSG Sky Chefs ownership. The acquisition is subject to the approval of internal LSG Sky Chefs and Lufthansa Boards and the competition authority of Finland and it is expected to be closed by end of first half of 2012.

“LSG Sky Chefs is one of the leading players in the in-flight service industry. Its international product development, global operations and profound know-how of in-flight services are an excellent basis for producing high-quality in-flight service for Finnair customers. We have positive experiences with LSG Sky Chefs from other airports outside Finland and this is a natural continuation of our partnership,” says Anssi Komulainen, Senior Vice President of Customer Service at Finnair.

“LSG Sky Chefs is extremely pleased to be able to widen its operations to the strategically important Finnish market. Finnair’s catering operations are well run, the personnel is very professional and the production facilities are state-of-the art. Finnair is an important client for us and we are convinced that we can further develop the operations, thus producing additional value for Finnair and its passengers,” states Jochen Müller, Executive Board Member Operations of LSG Sky Chefs.

Subject to the final agreement, approximately 650 employees of Finnair Catering Ltd. and Finncatering Ltd. will be employed by LSG Sky Chefs.

Finnair is a boutique airline specialised in fast connections between Europe and Asia via Helsinki. The airline carries more than eight million passengers annually and flies to more than 65 destinations in Asia, Europe and the Americas.