In September, Finnair carried 1,279,700 passengers, 10.4% more than in the corresponding period of 2018. The overall capacity measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) increased in September by 8.5%. Finnair's traffic measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs) increased by 9.8%, and the Passenger Load Factor (PLF) increased year-on-year by 0.9% points to 81.7%.

Finnair’s long-haul capacity increased year-on-year with three new A350 aircraft that entered the service after the comparison period. The ASK growth in Asian traffic was 10.4 %, mainly due to the doubling of frequencies to Hong Kong and increased frequencies to Osaka. Osaka (Kansai) airport was closed for several weeks during the comparison period due to typhoons Jebi and Mangkhut. The North American capacity increased by 23.4% following the opening of the new Los Angeles route in March.

In European traffic the ASKs were up by 4.4%. The growth derived from additional seating capacity in some of the existing narrow-body aircraft and the changes in route network. The added capacity was directed especially to London and Brussels and to new destinations Hannover, Trondheim, Bologna and Astana. Capacity in domestic traffic decreased by 3.7% mainly due to changes in traffic plan.

RPKs increased in Asian traffic by 3.8%, in North American traffic by 41.1%, in European traffic by 12.0% and in domestic traffic by 4.6%. The PLF was 80.7% in Asian traffic, 90.1% in North American traffic, 82.1% in European traffic and 70.3% in domestic traffic.

Passenger numbers increased in Asian traffic by 3.3%, in North American traffic by 34.0%, in European traffic by 13.1% and in domestic traffic by 3.3%. The decline in demand from Europe to Asia, especially Hong Kong, was reflected in number of passengers in Asian traffic.

Available scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 13.7% year-on-year. Revenue scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 11.4%. Global uncertainty in world trade continued to press global air freight market in September, and market softness and yield pressures were especially visible in Finnair’s cargo markets in Asia.

In September 85.3% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule (85.2%).

Traffic statistics for October 2019 will be published on Thursday 7 November 2019.

Finnair