In April, Finnair carried 80,900 passengers, which was 403.6% more than in April 2020. The number of passengers in April 2021 was 6.3% less than in March 2021.
The COVID-19 impact, including the exceptionally strict travel restrictions imposed by several countries, still affected all passenger traffic figures, said the airline, which was especially visible in its North Atlantic and Asian figures. The overall capacity measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) increased in April by 253.3% year-on-year but decreased by 2.6% month-on-month. Finnair operated 67 daily flights (cargo-only included) on average which was 123.3% more than in April 2020 but 8.1% less than in March 2021. The differences between capacity figures compared to April 2020 are explained by the longer average stage length of operated flights and by the larger gauge of operated aircraft. Finnair's traffic measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs) increased by 291.1% year-on-year and by 4.6% month-on-month. The Passenger Load Factor (PLF) increased by 2.6% points to 26.4% year-on-year and by 1.8% points month-on-month.
The ASK increase in Asian traffic was 1,969.8% year-on-year. The North Atlantic capacity decreased by 100.0% as there were no related passenger flights in April 2020. In European traffic, the ASKs were up by 29.1%. The ASKs in domestic traffic increased by 519.3%.
RPKs increased in Asian traffic by 184.6% year-on-year, in North Atlantic traffic by 100.0%, in European traffic by 221.9% and in domestic traffic by 1,758.6%.
The PLF was 11.4% in Asian traffic but it was supported by the very strong cargo operations and a high cargo load factor. The PLF was 8.3% in North Atlantic traffic, 43.7% in European traffic and 65.6% in domestic traffic.
Passenger numbers increased in Asian traffic by 140.9% year-on-year, in North Atlantic traffic by 100.0%, in European traffic by 234.8% and in domestic traffic by 1,424.1%.
Available scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 1,777.1% year-on-year (decreased by 1.0% month-on-month) and revenue scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 4,216.9% (decreased by 1.9% month-on-month). Cargo related available tonne kilometres increased only by 292.4% year-on-year (decreased by 4.5% month-on-month) and revenue tonne kilometres increased by 353.3% (increased by 0.2% 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. Compared to March 2021, cargo-only tonnes were down only by 0.5% and the total cargo tonnes by 1.0% as demand for the cargo capacity remained very strong especially in Asian traffic. As a result, the cargo load factor was clearly higher than in the corresponding period of 2020.
In April, 92.9% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule (95.9%).