Aero Oy routes (abroad)

Inaugural air mail letters and cachets of inauguration flights of the Finnish national air transport company Aero Oy. The initial routes were between Helsinki, Tallinn and Stockholm.

1940's

1948 Helsinki - Copenhagen (Denmark)

Below is a "Printed Matter" air mail letter of the inauguration of the route Helsinki - Copenhagen (Denmark) in 11.3.1948. The rate for printed matter to Nordic countries was three marks (for lowest weight class of 0-50 grams) between 1.1.1948 and 30.11.1948. Air mail surcharge to Nordic countries was two marks for each 20 grams of weight between 1.10.1942 - 30.9.1957. The letter is franked with a Red Cross stamp of five marks making it correctly rated (3 for printed matter, 2 for air mail surcharge). 

This letter was actually delivered to a recipient and not just sent back to the sender making it much more interesting than just philatelic products which is the usual case for inauguration flights. The inauguration of this route was, for unknown reasons, not announced in the official documentations of Finnish postal services that usually announced these befofehand.

1948 Helsinki - Copenhagen (Denmark)

Below is an air mail letter of the inauguration of the route Helsinki - Copenhagen (Denmark) in 11.3.1948. The rate to Nordic countries was 12 marks between 1.1.1948 and 30.6.1948. Air mail surcharge to Nordic countries was two marks for each 20 grams of weight between 1.10.1942 - 30.9.1957. The franking reveals a face value of 14 marks which is consistent with the correct rate for lowest weight class (0-20 grams) air mail letter to Denmark.

The letter is a philatelic product returned to it's sender. The inauguration of this route was, for unknown reasons, not announced in the official documentations of Finnish postal services that usually announced these befofehand.

1948 Helsinki - Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Below is a registered letter of the inauguration of the route Helsinki - Amsterdam (Netherlands) in 20.7.1948. Letter rate to European countries outside of the Nordic countries was 15 marks between 1.7.1948 and 31.10.1949. Registration fee was 15 marks between 1.7.1948 and 31.10.1949. Air mail surcharge was three marks for each five grams of weight. The postage stamps on the letter form a correct rate for a 4th lowest weight class (15-20 grams) registered air mail letter to Netherlands (15 + 15 + 12 = 42). A philatelic product returned to it's sender.

1948 Helsinki - Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Below is a registered letter of the inauguration of the route Helsinki - Amsterdam (Netherlands) in 20.7.1948. Letter rate to European countries outside of the Nordic countries was 15 marks between 1.7.1948 and 31.10.1949. Registration fee was 15 marks between 1.7.1948 and 31.10.1949. Air mail surcharge was three marks for each five grams of weight. The franking is consistent for a lowest weight class (0-5 grams) registered air mail letter to Netherlands (15 + 15 + 3 = 33). A philatelic product returned to it's sender.