In June, Finnair carried 127,900 passengers, which was 131.5% more than in June 2020. The COVID-19 impact was already clearly visible then as Finnair only operated a minimum network due to strict and extensive travel restrictions. The number of passengers in June 2021 was 54.5% more than in May 2021 (month-on-month figures are not fully comparable as there is one fewer day in June).
The COVID-19 impact, including the strict travel restrictions imposed by several countries, still affected all passenger traffic figures. It was particularly visible in the North Atlantic and Asian figures. The overall capacity measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) increased in June by 359.2% year-on-year and by 44.6% month-on-month. Finnair operated 78 daily flights (cargo-only included) on average, which was 59.2% more than in June 2020 and 20.0% more than in May 2021. The differences between capacity figures compared to June 2020 are explained by the longer average stage length of flights operated and by the larger gauge of aircraft operated. Finnair’s traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs), increased by 263.6% year-on-year and by 73.0% month-on-month. The Passenger Load Factor (PLF) decreased by 9.1% points to 34.7% year-on-year but increased by 5.7% points month-on-month.
The ASK increase in Asian traffic was 100.0% year-on-year as there were no comparable passenger flights in June 2020. In North Atlantic traffic, the ASKs increased by 5,243.3%: there was only a single passenger flight in June 2020, and the Chicago and Los Angeles routes were re-opened in June 2021, complementing the New York route, which was re-opened in March 2021. In European traffic, the ASKs were up by 85.7%. The ASKs in domestic traffic increased by 116.3%.
RPKs increased in Asian traffic by 100.0% year-on-year, in North Atlantic traffic by 16,780.5%, in European traffic by 156.8% and in domestic traffic by 135.7%.
The PLF was 14.4% in Asian traffic but it was supported by the strong cargo operations and a high cargo load factor. The PLF was 25.5% in North Atlantic traffic, 57.9% in European traffic and 73.1% in domestic traffic.
Passenger numbers increased in Asian traffic by 100.0% year-on-year, in North Atlantic traffic by 15,154.2%, in European traffic by 118.4% and in domestic traffic by 110.9%.
In June, available scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 3,014.5% year-on-year (increased by 38.9% month-on-month) and revenue scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 4,342.9% (increased by 36.6% month-on-month), both due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on scheduled flights especially in Asian and North Atlantic traffic in June 2020. However, cargo related available tonne kilometres increased only by 64.4% year-on-year (decreased by 5.5% month-on-month) and revenue tonne kilometres increased by 64.8% (decreased by 6.7% month-on-month) as they both also include the cargo-only flights operated mainly between Europe and Asia as well as Europe and North America. Cargo-only tonnes were down by 28.6% year-on-year and by 34.6% month-on-month. The total cargo tonnes increased by 52.2% year-on-year but decreased by 8.1% month-on-month. Demand for the cargo capacity remained strong especially in Asian traffic. As a result, the cargo load factor remained high.
In June, 87.9% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule (96.6%).
Traffic statistics for July 2021 will be published on Thursday 5 August 2021.
| Finnair Traffic Performance June 2021 | ||||
| Month | % Change | YTD | % Change | |
| Total traffic | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 | 127.9 | 131.5 | 550.8 | -80.0 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 594.1 | 359.2 | 2,619.7 | -73.8 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 206.0 | 263.6 | 740.8 | -89.6 |
| Passenger load factor % | 34.7 | -9.1p | 28.3 | -43.0p |
| Cargo tonnes total | 6,216.0 | 52.2 | 40,315.3 | -0.5 |
| Available tonne kilometres mill | 141.5 | 40.9 | 857.1 | -49.3 |
| Revenue tonne kilometres mill | 64.7 | 95.2 | 363.3 | -59.6 |
| Asia | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 Asia | 4.8 | 100.0 | 20.8 | -95.5 |
| Available seat kilometres mill Asia | 248.5 | 100.0 | 1,360.8 | -71.0 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill Asia | 35.8 | 100.0 | 155.6 | -95.7 |
| Passenger load factor % Asia | 14.4 | N/A | 11.4 | -64.9p |
| Europe | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 Europe | 88.0 | 118.4 | 304.9 | -80.8 |
| Available seat kilometres mill Europe | 213.7 | 85.7 | 854.1 | -78.0 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill Europe | 123.9 | 156.8 | 402.1 | -84.2 |
| Passenger load factor % Europe | 57.9 | 16.0p | 47.1 | -18.7p |
| North Atlantic | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 North Atlantic | 3.7 | 15,154.2 | 4.7 | -94.3 |
| Available seat kilometres mill North Atlantic | 105.2 | 5,243.3 | 159.9 | -81.2 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill North Atlantic | 26.8 | 16,780.5 | 33.6 | -94.8 |
| Passenger load factor % North Atlantic | 25.5 | 17.4p | 21.0 | -55.2p |
| Domestic | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 Domestic | 31.4 | 110.9 | 220.4 | -64.2 |
| Available seat kilometres mill Domestic | 26.7 | 116.3 | 244.9 | -59.7 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill Domestic | 19.5 | 135.7 | 149.5 | -59.2 |
| Passenger load factor % Domestic | 73.1 | 6.0p | 61.1 | 0.8p |
| Cargo Traffic | ||||
| Europe tonnes | 169.4 | -21.9 | 1,041.2 | -85.7 |
| North Atlantic tonnes | 688.0 | 2,272.1 | 1,148.4 | -54.8 |
| Asia tonnes | 2,609.4 | 100.0 | 14,151.8 | -31.7 |
| Domestic tonnes | 25.5 | 18.8 | 161.6 | -2.2 |
| Cargo scheduled traffic total tonnes | 3,492.3 | 1,206.2 | 16,503.0 | -46.3 |
| Cargo flights tonnes** | 2,723.7 | -28.6 | 23,812.3 | 142.7 |
| Cargo Traffic tonnes total | 6,216.0 | 52.2 | 40,315.3 | -0.5 |
| Available tonne kilometres* mill | 56.8 | 64.4 | 363.9 | -20.3 |
| Revenue tonne kilometres mill | 46.3 | 64.8 | 297.6 | 14.1 |
| Available sched. cargo tonne kms* mill | 31.3 | 3,014.5 | 143.1 | -60.8 |
| Revenue sched. cargo tonne kms mill | 25.2 | 4,342.9 | 117.7 | -38.2 |
| Cargo load factor* % | 81.5 | 0.2p | 81.8 | 24.7p |
| – North-Atlantic cargo load factor* % | 75.5 | -24.5p | 77.5 | 11.2p |
| – Asia cargo load factor* % | 86.2 | N/A | 86.0 | 30.2p |
| Scheduled traffic Cargo load factor* % | 80.5 | 24.1p | 82.3 | 30.1p |
* Based on average operational cargo capacity
** Including purchased traffic
- Change %: Change compared to the figures of the respective periods in the previous year (p = points).
- Available seat kilometres. ASK: Total number of seats available. multiplied by the number of kilometres flown.
- Revenue passenger kilometres. RPK: Number of revenue passengers carried. multiplied by kilometres flown.
- Passenger load factor: Share of revenue passenger kilometres of available seat kilometres.
- Available tonne kilometres. ATK: Number of tonnes of capacity for carriage of passengers. cargo and mail. multiplied by kilometres flown.
- Revenue tonne kilometres. RTK: Total revenue load consisting of passengers. cargo and mail. multiplied by kilometres flown.
- Overall load factor: Share of revenue tonne kilometres of available ton kilometres.
In other news, Finnair announced changes for travel to Finland:
Finland’s new entry model opens up Finland for leisure travelers: travelers from EU and Schengen countries can enter Finland freely as of 12 July without any additional health safety measures when
- they are fully vaccinated, or
- have had a covid-19 infection before, or
- are born in 2006 or later, or
- arrive from a country with low virus incidence.
Those with one vaccination only are instructed to take a covid-19 test earliest 72 hours after arrival to Finland, and those without any vaccinations are required in addition to have a negative test result before departure to Finland or a test on arrival.
In line with this new model, Finnair will as of July 12, 2021 discontinue its requirement for customers to present covid certificates before boarding flights to Finland.
“With the new legislation, the requirements for entry are checked on arrival, so our customers do not need to show their certificates to Finnair customer service agent at the check-in, when their destination is Finland”, says Jaakko Schildt, Finnair Chief Operating Officer. “We continue to check the documents for those transiting to an international flight at Helsinki, per authority requirements.”
“The health and safety of our customers is a key priority for us, and we continue to have comprehensive measures in place on our flights to ensure safe travel. These include, among others, the obligation to wear a mask for the duration of the flight”, Schildt says.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare recommended earlier this year that all airlines with flights to Finland require their customers to show either a negative test result, a certificate of recovery, or a vaccination certificate, and Finnair has been the only airline flying to Finland who has adhered to this recommendation. With the discontinuation of this practice, Finnair does not have any requirements of its own regarding covid certificates.
During the interim period of 12-25 July 2021 Finnair will however check that customers traveling to Finland meet the Finnish entry requirements, when they depart from a country that is outside the group of normalized border traffic, as internal border control continues and leisure traffic is not yet allowed from all EU and Schengen countries during the interim period.
More details on entry to Finland are available at https://www.finnair.com/fi-en/flight-information/travel-updates/travelling-to-finland-2166364
Many countries are open for travel, but continue to require covid certificates from travelers, so customers are advised to always check the requirements of their destination country from the local authorities’ website or from Finnair’s travel map at https://www.finnair.com/fi-en/travel-requirements-map.
Finnair flies to approximately 60 destinations during the summer season, with more destinations being added for the winter season.
Top Copyright Photo: Finnair Airbus A330-302 OH-LTT (msn 1088) LHR (SPA). Image: 948136.
Finnair aircraft slide show:
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