Finnair told public broadcaster Yle that the controversy had affected the company, and that there had been calls for tourists to boycott Finland.
“The statements or posts mentioned by some Finnish members of parliament do not represent the values of Finnair,” the airline wrote on its Japanese X account on Tuesday.
“As an airline supported by employees from diverse backgrounds and customers around the world, we promise to welcome everyone with respect,” it wrote.
The debacle has also drawn attention in Japan, South Korea and China, among other East Asian countries.
A Japanese man living in Finland launched a petition calling for an investigation into anti-Asian discrimination, which had gathered more than 7,000 signatures as of Sunday evening, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported.
The Finnish embassy in Japan said it had received “numerous opinions and questions” on Finland’s efforts to address racism.
“Racism remains a challenge in Finnish society, and its resolution requires continuous and resolute efforts,” it acknowledged in an X post earlier this week.
The controversy around Ms Dzafce is a postscript to a chaotic Miss Universe pageant hosted in Thailand that had been beset by walkouts and allegations of rigging.
The Miss Finland Organisation said dethroning Ms Dzafce was a “difficult but necessary” move.
“Miss Finland holds a position of role-model status, which requires respecting all people regardless of their origin, background, or appearance,” the organisation said in a statement.
“We are deeply sorry for the harm these events have caused. Especially to the Asian community, but also to everyone affected. Racism is never acceptable in any form,” it wrote.
