summary
- Finnair’s passenger numbers in December 2023 increased by 5.4% compared to the previous year.
- The closure of Russian airspace continues to impact Finnair’s Asian passenger traffic, despite growth.
- Finnair achieved growth in its cargo metrics through partnerships and capacity expansion on routes in Asia and Europe.
Finnair has announced passenger numbers for December 2023. Finland’s flag carrier posted a relatively strong year in the last month of the year, with more than 878,000 passengers flying on the airline, even though the negative effects of the closure of Russian airspace are still felt. demonstrated achievements.
Finnair continues its recovery
Finnish airlines carried 878,200 passengers in December, an increase of 5.4% compared to December 2022 and an increase of 8.2% compared to November 2023. The strong performance in December was expected as the winter holiday season is a very lucrative time for airlines, especially in Europe. . Finnair said:
“December passenger numbers improved year-on-year as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has largely faded and Russian airspace was closed during the comparison period. ”, which is still visible in December 2023 when compared to pre-pandemic numbers. ”
During the month, the total number of available seats, measured by Available Seat Kilometers (ASK), increased by 7.8% year-on-year and 8.5% month-on-month.
Photo: Jaromir Chalabala | Shutterstock
Meanwhile, several cargo indicators showed year-on-year increases due to Finnair’s cooperation with Qatar Airways and the expansion of cargo capacity on routes in Asia and Europe. Compared to December 2022, available freight ton-kilometers increased by 14.4% and revenueable freight ton-kilometers increased by 15.8%. Moreover, the overall cargo volume in tons increased by 16.5% year-on-year and 3.6% month-on-month.
Verification: Finnair fleet in 2023
Finland’s flag carrier prioritizes Airbus aircraft for its main route operations.
Traffic in Asia soars, decline in North America
In December, Finnair passengers preferred destinations in Asia and Europe the most. Available seat kilometers (ASK) to Asian cities increased by 14.9% year-on-year, mainly due to increased flights to Japan and South Korea. Passenger numbers in Asia increased by 5.2% year-on-year.
Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock
However, passengers traveling to North Atlantic destinations fell by 10.8%. Passenger numbers increased by 8.1% in Europe, 9.8% in the Middle East and 1.2% domestically.
The panic is over: Finnair reverses baggage allowance reductions
At one point, itineraries to and from Asia could reportedly cost more than $100 per checked bag if checked at the airport at the last minute.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland’s national airline faced the challenge of closing Russian airspace. Previously positioning itself as a gateway between East and West, the airline had carved out a niche in connecting Europe and Asia via short northern routes.
Since the closure of Russian airspace, Finnish airlines have been forced to reroute flights around Russia, adding more distance to previously short routes. In response to this change, the company previously announced a strategic shift to focus more on North America to strengthen the geographic balance of its overall network.
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