Aero Oy routes (domestic)

Inaugural air mail letters and cachets of inauguration flights of the Finnish national air transport company Aero Oy.

1930's

1937 Helsinki - Tampere

The inauguration of domestic air route between Helsinki and Tampere was supposed to have happened in 1.5.1937 but was delayed for unknown reasons to happen on the 3rd of May instead. The air route only operated until 31.7.1937 so just shy of three months. The air route accepted only air mail that had air mail surcharge paid in full. The route operated on weekdays. The flight from Tampere took off at nine in the morning and the flight from Helsinki took off at half past five in the evening.

Below is a postcard flown in the inaugural flight between Helsinki and Tampere 3.7.1937. Domestic postcard rate was 1,25 marks between 1.12.1931 and 15.6.1940. Air mail surcharge for domestic postcards was 0,50 marks between 1.4.1928 and 30.9.1942. Correct rate.

Below is a letter to the other direction of the route (Tampere - Helsinki) that inaugurated in 4.5.1937. The domestic letter rate was two marks between 1.12.1931 and 15.6.1940. Air mail surcharge for domestic letters was one mark for each 20 grams between 1.4.1928 and 30.9.1942. So the letter is 0,25 marks overpaid. This letter and the above postcard are philatelic products - both sent by and to the same person Otto Hjalmar Granfelt (a Finnish professor, judge, statesman and Secretary of Justice). The postcard has his signature on the back as well as Finnish hand written text indicating his intention of creating 10 pieces of these philatelic products.