Finnair reports June traffic performance

In June, Finnair's overall capacity measured in Available Seat Kilometres grew by 10.5% and traffic measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres grew by 9.7 year‐on‐year. Capacity grew especially in long haul traffic, the proportion of which grew from 52 to 56% year-on-year. Despite the strong growth, the passenger load factor was close to last year’s level at 84.1% compared to 84.7%.

The capacity in Finnair’s largest traffic area, Asia, grew by 14.4% in June, boosted in particular by the newly launched Fukuoka and Guangzhou routes, while traffic grew by 10.4%. Capacity in American traffic increased by as much as 44.4% due to the Miami and Chicago routes being operated this year, and traffic measured in RPK by 37.3%.

The capacity in European traffic grew by 2.5%, and traffic as measured in RPK increased by 5.1% year‐on‐year. At the same time, the capacity in domestic traffic contracted by 4.0% and traffic by 0.3% year‐on‐year.

According to preliminary data, Finnair’s Revenue per Available Seat Kilometre (RASK), or revenues divided by ASK, declined in April–June by 3.8% year‐on‐year and totalled 6.69 euro cents.

"Due to the strong growth of Finnair’s long-haul traffic, available seat kilometres increased in the second quarter. Typically, unit revenues in long haul traffic are lower than in short haul, and passenger loads on recently launched long-haul routes were somewhat muted, which is typical in the ramp-up stage. These factors had a negative impact on the average unit revenue. Unit revenues in our Asian and American traffic showed a decline year-on-year, while remaining at last year’s level in domestic traffic and increasing slightly in Europe. Finnair’s Revenue Cargo Tonnes grew, but unit revenues declined due to overcapacity in the markets", says Finnair CFO Pekka Vähähyyppä.

In June, the cargo capacity in scheduled traffic measured in Available Tonne Kilometres grew by 10.8%, and Revenue Tonne Kilometres increased by 17.0% year on year. In addition, Finnair’s total freight capacity includes two weekly freighter flights between Helsinki and Brussels and two weekly freighter flights shared with IAG between Helsinki and London, both operated by DHL.

In June, 86.8% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule.