In January 2020, Finnair experienced strong demand and carried 1,122,000 passengers, 11.3% more than in the corresponding period of 2019. The overall capacity measured in available seat kilometres (ASK) increased in January by 10.5%. Finnair's traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased by 11.9%, and the passenger load factor (PLF) increased year-on-year by 1.0% points to 78.0%.
Finnair’s long-haul capacity increased year-on-year with two new A350 aircraft that entered the service after the comparison period. The ASK growth in Asian traffic was 9.9%, mainly due to the doubling of Hong Kong frequencies as well as the openings of new Daxing (Beijing) and Sapporo routes in November and December 2019, respectively. The North Atlantic capacity increased by 25.8% following the opening of new Los Angeles route in March 2019.
In European traffic, the ASKs were up by 9.9%. 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. The ASKs in domestic traffic decreased marginally by 0.3%.
RPKs increased in Asian traffic by 9.6%, in North Atlantic traffic by 23.5%, in European traffic by 13.1% and in domestic traffic by 12.0%. The PLF was 83.5% in Asian traffic, 78.5% in North Atlantic traffic, 72.0% in European traffic and 63.6% in domestic traffic.
Passenger numbers increased in Asian traffic by 9.2%, in North Atlantic traffic by 22.2%, in European traffic by 12.5% and in domestic traffic by 8.8%.
Available scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 10.5% year-on-year and revenue scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 3.1%. Overall global uncertainty in world trade continues to press global air freight market and was especially visible in Finnair’s cargo markets in Asia.
In January, 85.8% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule (64.7%).