Finnair Traffic Performance in July 2023
First Time Surpassing One Million Passengers Since February 2020, with a Robust Passenger Load Factor
In July, Finnair reported a passenger count of 1,062,500. This figure shows a 6.3% increase from July 2022 and a 6.5% rise from June 2023. However, considering the month of June had one less day, these figures are not entirely comparable. Finnair’s average Passenger Load Factor (PLF) for the month was 84.8%.
Improvements in Passenger Traffic Amid Receding Impact of COVID-19 and Closure of Russian Airspace
July’s passenger traffic figures showed an improvement year-on-year, primarily due to the fading impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the already implemented closure of Russian airspace during the comparison period. However, the closure’s negative impact was still apparent in July 2023’s Asian passenger traffic, especially when compared with pre-pandemic figures.
Finnair’s Significant Capacity Increase and Changes in Traffic
July saw a 12.0% year-on-year increase in the overall capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), and a 3.9% month-on-month rise. Finnair’s traffic, as measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs), grew by 9.8% year-on-year and 9.2% month-on-month. Interestingly, the Passenger Load Factor (PLF) dropped by 1.8% points year-on-year but increased 4.1% points month-on-month, reaching 84.8%.
Finnair’s Capacity and Traffic Changes across Various Regions
July saw a 54.5% year-on-year increase in ASK in Asian traffic, mainly due to added capacity to Japan and South Korea and the inauguration of the Mumbai route in August 2022. Conversely, the North Atlantic capacity decreased by 42.9% due to the end of operations in Stockholm between North American destinations in October 2022. European traffic saw a slight increase of 1.8% in ASKs. A massive surge of 1,520.1% in the Middle Eastern capacity was recorded due to the initiation of a partnership with Qatar Airways in November 2022 and low traffic during the summer season of 2022. Lastly, domestic traffic ASKs rose by 10.6%.
Finnair Sees Fluctuations in RPK and Passenger Numbers Across Regions
RPKs increased by 65.9% year-on-year in Asian traffic, but North Atlantic traffic saw a decrease of 45.0%. European traffic witnessed a minor decrease of 1.2% in RPKs. Middle Eastern traffic saw a massive increase of 1,299.3% in RPKs, while domestic traffic experienced a slight decrease of 0.4%. In terms of passenger numbers, there was a 64.2% year-on-year increase in Asian traffic but a decrease of 45.3% in North Atlantic traffic. European traffic saw a 2.0% increase and Middle Eastern traffic witnessed a whopping 912.6% rise in passenger numbers. However, domestic traffic saw a marginal decrease of 0.1%.
Substantial Year-on-Year Increase in Finnair Cargo Figures for July
July saw many cargo figures recording a year-on-year increase due to the cooperation with Qatar Airways and increased Asian capacity, despite the end of operations between Sweden and the US affecting the North Atlantic cargo capacity. Available cargo tonne kilometers and revenue cargo tonne kilometers increased by 23.9% and 12.8% year-on-year respectively. The total cargo tonnes rose by 18.0% year-on-year but decreased by 9.5% month-on-month.
Majority of Finnair Flights Arrived on Schedule in July
In July, 81.3% of all Finnair flights arrived as per schedule, showing an improvement from the previous figure of 75.2%.
Finnair Traffic Performance Table
| Finnair Traffic Performance July 2023 | ||||
| Month | % Change | YTD | % Change | |
| Total traffic | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 | 1,062.5 | 6.3 | 6,481.2 | 33.0 |
| Available seat kilometers mill | 3,216.3 | 12.0 | 20,979.3 | 19.0 |
| Revenue passenger kilometers mill | 2,728.0 | 9.8 | 16,177.1 | 46.7 |
| Passenger load factor % | 84.8 | – 1.8p | 77.1 | 14.5p |
| Cargo tonnes total | 10,908.8 | 18.0 | 75,812.3 | 3.0 |
| Available tonne kilometers mill | 457.8 | 16.3 | 3,012.3 | 13.2 |
| Revenue tonne kilometers mill | 308.4 | 10.4 | 1,903.6 | 29.4 |
| Asia | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 | 119.2 | 64.2 | 752.1 | 127.2 |
| Available seat kilometers mill | 1,057.0 | 54.5 | 7,387.9 | 56.1 |
| Revenue passenger kilometers mill | 898.7 | 65.9 | 5,657.1 | 126.6 |
| Passenger load factor % | 85.0 | 5.8p | 76.6 | 23.8p |
| Europe | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 | 767.9 | 2.0 | 4,163.1 | 22.2 |
| Available seat kilometers mill | 1,458.6 | 1.8 | 8,409.2 | 9.3 |
| Revenue passenger kilometers mill | 1,254.4 | – 1.2 | 6,785.1 | 21.1 |
| Passenger load factor % | 86.0 | – 2.7p | 80.7 | 7.9p |
| North Atlantic | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 | 44.7 | – 45.3 | 237.7 | – 22.3 |
| Available seat kilometers mill | 386.8 | – 42.9 | 2,523.2 | – 41.3 |
| Revenue passenger kilometers mill | 336.7 | – 45.0 | 1,808.8 | – 21.2 |
| Passenger load factor % | 87.0 | – 3.3p | 71.7 | 18.3p |
| Middle East | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 | 42.7 | 912.6 | 292.5 | 768.5 |
| Available seat kilometers mill | 245.5 | 1,520.1 | 1,800.5 | 904.3 |
| Revenue passenger kilometers mill | 190.6 | 1,299.3 | 1,299.5 | 881.9 |
| Passenger load factor % | 77.6 | – 12.2p | 72.2 | – 1.6p |
| Domestic | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 | 88.0 | – 0.1 | 1,035.6 | 29.9 |
| Available seat kilometers mill | 68.3 | 10.6 | 858.6 | 19.5 |
| Revenue passenger kilometers mill | 47.6 | – 0.4 | 626.7 | 25.2 |
| Passenger load factor % | 69.6 | – 7.7p | 73.0 | 3.3p |
| Cargo traffic | ||||
| – Europe tonnes | 2,201.1 | 9.8 | 12,968.5 | 14.3 |
| – North Atlantic tonnes | 1,153.9 | – 57.5 | 9,045.2 | – 55.9 |
| – Middle East tonnes | 1,672.1 | 18,538.8 | 12,454.8 | 1,018.7 |
| – Asia tonnes | 5,860.1 | 34.5 | 40,979.0 | 29.7 |
| – Domestic tonnes | 21.6 | – 16.1 | 206.9 | 3.1 |
| – Cargo flights tonnes* | 0.0 | – 100.0 | 157.9 | – 98.2 |
| Cargo traffic tonnes total | 10,908.8 | 18.0 | 75,812.3 | 3.0 |
| Available cargo tonne kilometers** mill | 117.1 | 23.9 | 834.1 | 7.7 |
| Revenue cargo tonne kilometers mill | 64.4 | 12.8 | 457.0 | – 6.0 |
| Cargo load factor** % | 55.0 | – 5.4p | 54.8 | – 7.9p |
* Including purchased traffic
** Based on average operational cargo capacity
- Change %: Change compared to the figures of the respective periods in the previous year (p = points, N/A = not available).
- Available seat kilometers. ASK: Total number of seats available multiplied by kilometers flown.
- Revenue passenger kilometers. RPK: Number of revenue passengers carried multiplied by kilometers flown.
- Passenger load factor: Share of revenue passenger kilometers of available seat kilometers.
- Available tonne kilometers. ATK: Number of tonnes of capacity for carriage of passengers, cargo, and mail multiplied by kilometers flown.
- Revenue tonne-kilometers. RTK: Total revenue load consisting of passengers, cargo and mail multiplied by kilometers flown.