Finnair's European and Asian traffic on the rise

In October demand on Finnair's European routes has seen a strong rise of 12.1 percent. Asian traffic also continued its sturdy growth with demand on Asian routes 50 percent higher in October than at the same time last year.

The total passenger traffic (RPK's) increased by 10.9 %, while the capacity (ASK) was up by 7.9 %, resulting in a passenger load factor (including leisure flights) of 70.5 %, 1.9 points higher than last year. In October 2003 Finnair carried a total of 642,700 passengers, which is 3.0 % more than year before. 519,000 passengers were carried in scheduled traffic (+5.4 %) and 123,700 in leisure traffic (-6.0 %).

Cumulative January-October traffic (RPK) was 0.4 % below 2002 level on a capacity increase of 4.1 %. Passenger load factor was 69.1 % (-3.1%-points). Total number of passengers carried was 5,728,300 (-4.8 %).

Departure punctuality of scheduled flights was 92.8 % (based on a fifteen minute standard), 0.7 %-points higher than in October 2002. Including leisure flights departure punctuality was 91.7 % (+0.6 p.u).

As from January 2003 the traffic performance report also includes the figures of Finnair's associated company Aero Airlines AS, to which Finnair handed over most of its Helsinki-Tallinn operations in June 1st 2002. In October Aero carried 10,800 passengers (+1.8 %) with a PLF of 51.9 % (+3.6 points).

Due to the introduction of a new fare concept in September, business class volumes are no longer reported. Finnair stated that customer behaviour and earnings logics have undergone significant changes, and comparisons to earlier traffic data are no longer relevant.

Scheduled traffic

- Scheduled traffic (international + domestic) revenue passenger kilometers increased by 21.2 %. The change in capacity was +14.6 %. Passenger load factor was 66.0 %, 3.5 percentage points higher than last year.

- In scheduled international traffic, total number of passengers was up by 12.3 %. Capacity in ASKs was +17.4 %, while RPKs increased by 24.8 %.

- European scheduled traffic, ASKs increased by 3.3 %, and as RPKs increased by 12.1 %, the passenger load factor was 58.0 %, up 4.6 points from previous year. 

- North Atlantic scheduled traffic, capacity increased by 18.1 %, partly due to the introduction of Miami flights on 23rd of October. Change in RPKs was -1.6 %, and passenger load factor for October was 67.5 %, 13.5 points lower than previous year.

- The Asian scheduled traffic, capacity increase was 46.6 %, due to the addition of Shanghai flights on 2 September, and Osaka flights since June. The passenger traffic was up by 51.8 %. Passenger load factor was 83.3 %, 2.8 percentage points up.

- Domestic scheduled traffic decreased by 3.3 % on a capacity decrease of 0.8 %. Passenger load factor decreased by 1.3 percentage points to 51.4 %.

Leisure traffic

- ASKs for leisure traffic decreased in October by 6.3 %, and RPKs decreased by 5.7 %, resulting in a passenger load factor of 82.2 %, 0.5 points lower than last year. 

Cargo

- Cargo traffic increased by 10.2 % in terms of cargo tonnes carried. Growth in scheduled traffic was 21.3%. In scheduled Asian traffic volumes grew by 43.9%, in North American traffic by 7.5% and on European routes by 10.1%. The Amount of cargo carried on chartered cargo flights decreased due to capacity cuts.