Finnair Traffic Performance in July 2021
Finnair Plc Investor News 5 August 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EEST
Continued improvement in the passenger traffic figures although the COVID-19 pandemic impact still visible in July, another strong month for cargo
In July, Finnair carried 213,800 passengers, which was 47.2% more than in July 2020. The COVID-19 impact was already clearly visible then as Finnair operated a limited network due to strict and extensive travel restrictions. The number of passengers in July 2021 was 67.2% more than in June 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. Travelling to Finland was eased as of 26 July 2021 with Finland’s relaxed travel guidance and the removal of internal border control within the EU and Schengen Area.
The overall capacity measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) increased in July by 90.6% year-on-year and by 58.7% month-on-month. Finnair operated 106 daily flights (cargo-only included) on average, which was 20.5% more than in July 2020 and 35.9% more than in June 2021. The differences between capacity figures compared to July 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 95.4% year-on-year and by 94.4% month-on-month. The Passenger Load Factor (PLF) increased by 1.0% points to 42.5% year-on-year and by 7.8% points month-on-month.
The ASK increase in Asian traffic was 43.6% year-on-year. In North Atlantic traffic, the ASKs increased by 100.0% as there were no passenger flights in July 2020. In European traffic, the ASKs were up by 61.1%. The ASKs in domestic traffic increased by 51.1%.
RPKs increased in Asian traffic by 65.5% year-on-year, in North Atlantic traffic by 100.0%, in European traffic by 71.5% and in domestic traffic by 49.1%.
The PLF was 21.6% in Asian traffic but it was supported by the strong cargo operations and a high cargo load factor. The PLF was 29.3% in North Atlantic traffic, 65.2% in European traffic and 72.1% in domestic traffic.
Passenger numbers increased in Asian traffic by 66.5% year-on-year, in North Atlantic traffic by 100.0%, in European traffic by 44.1% and in domestic traffic by 30.5%.
In July, available scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 143.2% year-on-year (increased by 51.7% month-on-month) and revenue scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 155.8% (increased by 41.9% month-on-month), both due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on scheduled flights especially in Asian and North Atlantic traffic in July 2020. Cargo related available tonne kilometres increased by 109.6% year-on-year (increased by 15.5% month-on-month) and revenue tonne kilometres increased by 105.6% (increased by 11.3% month-on-month) and 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 up by 37.9% year-on-year but down by 27.2% month-on-month. The total cargo tonnes increased by 94.1% year-on-year and by 11.2% month-on-month. Demand for the cargo capacity remained strong especially in Asian traffic. As a result, the cargo load factor remained high.
In July, 90.8% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule (95.9%).
Traffic statistics for August 2021 will be published on Tuesday 7 September 2021.
| Finnair Traffic Performance July 2021 | ||||
| Month | % Change | YTD | % Change | |
| Total traffic | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 | 213.8 | 47.2 | 764.7 | -73.6 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 943.1 | 90.6 | 3,562.9 | -66.1 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 400.4 | 95.4 | 1,141.2 | -84.5 |
| Passenger load factor % | 42.5 | 1.0p | 32.0 | -37.8p |
| Cargo tonnes total | 6,912.2 | 94.1 | 47,227.5 | 7.1 |
| Available tonne kilometres mill | 178.0 | 67.2 | 1,035.1 | -42.4 |
| Revenue tonne kilometres mill | 87.3 | 101.5 | 450.6 | -52.2 |
| Asia | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 Asia | 9.7 | 66.5 | 30.5 | -93.6 |
| Available seat kilometres mill Asia | 341.1 | 43.6 | 1,701.9 | -65.4 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill Asia | 73.8 | 65.5 | 229.4 | -93.7 |
| Passenger load factor % Asia | 21.6 | 2.9p | 13.5 | -60.1p |
| Europe | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 Europe | 154.4 | 44.1 | 459.4 | -72.9 |
| Available seat kilometres mill Europe | 375.4 | 61.1 | 1,229.6 | -70.1 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill Europe | 244.6 | 71.5 | 646.7 | -76.0 |
| Passenger load factor % Europe | 65.2 | 3.9p | 52.6 | -12.9p |
| North Atlantic | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 North Atlantic | 7.6 | 100.0 | 12.3 | -85.1 |
| Available seat kilometres mill North Atlantic | 190.0 | 100.0 | 350.0 | -58.8 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill North Atlantic | 55.6 | 100.0 | 89.2 | -86.2 |
| Passenger load factor % North Atlantic | 29.3 | N/A | 25.5 | -50.7p |
| Domestic | ||||
| Passengers 1,000 Domestic | 42.1 | 30.5 | 262.6 | -59.5 |
| Available seat kilometres mill Domestic | 36.6 | 51.1 | 281.4 | -55.5 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill Domestic | 26.3 | 49.1 | 175.9 | -54.2 |
| Passenger load factor % Domestic | 72.1 | -1.0p | 62.5 | 1.7p |
| Cargo Traffic | ||||
| Europe tonnes | 233.9 | -28.9 | 1,275.1 | -83.3 |
| North Atlantic tonnes | 1,196.4 | 100.0 | 2,344.7 | -7.8 |
| Asia tonnes | 3,471.7 | 96.6 | 17,623.5 | -21.6 |
| Domestic tonnes | 26.3 | -5.8 | 187.9 | -2.7 |
| Cargo scheduled traffic total tonnes | 4,928.3 | 132.1 | 21,431.3 | -34.7 |
| Cargo flights tonnes** | 1,983.9 | 37.9 | 25,796.3 | 129.3 |
| Cargo Traffic tonnes total | 6,912.2 | 94.1 | 47,227.5 | 7.1 |
| Available tonne kilometres* mill | 65.7 | 109.6 | 429.6 | -12.0 |
| Revenue tonne kilometres mill | 51.6 | 105.6 | 349.2 | 22.1 |
| Available sched. cargo tonne kms* mill | 47.5 | 143.2 | 190.6 | -50.5 |
| Revenue sched. cargo tonne kms mill | 35.8 | 155.8 | 153.5 | -24.9 |
| Cargo load factor* % | 78.6 | -1.5p | 81.3 | 22.7p |
| - North-Atlantic cargo load factor* % | 66.1 | N/A | 71.1 | 4.8p |
| - Asia cargo load factor* % | 85.8 | 8.3p | 86.0 | 28.9p |
| Scheduled traffic Cargo load factor* % | 75.3 | 3.7p | 80.5 | 27.4p |
* 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 tonne kilometres.
Further information:
Finnair Media Desk, +358 9 818 4020, comms(a)finnair.com
Finnair Gallery: http://gallery.finnair.com
Finnair on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Finnair
Finnair blogs: https://bluewings.finnair.com/
Finnair on Facebook: www.facebook.com/finnair
Finnair Group website: https://company.finnair.com/en