Finnair, one of the world's oldest airlines, of modest size, is celebrating its next 85 years. Yes next 85 years — on the occasion of its 85th anniversary! It's looking ahead towards 2093. Because the future and the past, says Christer Haglund, its senior vice president, 'are distinguished by the fact that we can influence the future while the past is history.' Launching its book Departure 2093 on the airline's philosophy at a meeting in New Delhi he explained: 'That is why we have decided to honour our anniversary with a look 85 years into the future instead of 85 years into the past. What will the world be like in 2093? How and what will be flying in the future?'

Looking into the future maybe guess work, but it is highly inquisitive and psychologically satisfying — something like the Indian habit of consulting your palmist or getting your janam patri or horoscope drawn up by the pandit or the astrologer. Finnair has drawn up its own five-fold vision chart that envisages flying to become more popular than ever before; more environment friendly; adventurous; creatively personal and profitable too.

The vision is full of possibilities and you can have your pick. For me, as I myself said as one of the speakers on the occasion, flying in an aircraft powered by solar and hydrogen cell energy by the mid-2020s offered an exciting promise bettered only by an even earlier promise of space flight by 2010 at a mere quarter million euro/dollar fare. I am certainly going to ask my bank manager to advance me a loan for that adventure which is not a flight of fancy but a reality as one American flier has already done so by paying the fare to Russian aerospace agency.

Dr Sanat Kaul, former Indian Civil Aviation Ministry joint secretary and chief guest of the day, forecast much faster interlinking of aviation and space travel and speedier integration of the world as a global village. He was, however, not so sure of the aviation industry's emission control prospects. Carbon emissions at aviation altitudes, he said, had a very heavy impact on environment. Nevertheless aviation and space flights would become deeply intertwined and cut travel times as never before, opening new vistas for the aviation industry and making it a major player in shaping the new world.

Kari Stolbow, director, Indian sub-continent for Finnair, detailed the airline's rapid progress in the Indian sector with flights from Delhi and Mumbai and hoped to add a third hub at the earliest from Chennai or Bangalore.

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