Finnair’s May-08 scheduled traffic grows, but at clearly lower load factors

Finnair’s Asian traffic grew 18.5% compared to May of the previous year. Capacity was up by 38.3% leading to 62.6% load factor, 10.5 ppts lower than last year. Number of passengers carried on Finnair’s Asian flights in May was 87,402, which is 15.1% more than a year ago. RPKs in European traffic decreased by 4.8% and passenger load factor decreased by 6.7 ppts to 61.7%.

The weakening global economy has decreased demand in the industry. Finnair’s passenger load factor suffers especially from the levelling off of demand growth in China and India. Demand from Europe to China is decreasing due to the ambiguity caused by the earthquakes in China. From China travel has decreased because of restrictions on traveling. Indian traffic is emphasized on demand from Europe to India. The more moderate growth in demand in China and India has not managed to offset the strong increase in long-haul capacity. Weakened demand in Asian traffic also reflects on load factors in European traffic.

Cargo traffic increased by 13.2% in terms of cargo tonnes carried. Growth in scheduled traffic was 17.9%. Increase in Asian traffic was 24.0%. Volume in European traffic increased by 4.2%. In North-Atlantic traffic cargo volume increased by 20.3%. Cargo traffic carried on chartered cargo flights decreased by 42.5%. The cargo load factor in the Far Eastern traffic was 71.3% and in the North Atlantic traffic 67.1%.

© Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 11-Jun-08
 

Other Finnair News

• Finnair agrees partnerships in its subsidiaries
• Finnairs ground handling personnels walkout disrupts air traffic
• Changes in Finnair's in-flight service offering
• Finnair unveils Mika Vehviläinen as new CEO
• Finnair: New Secure Flight requirement comes into force on flights to USA
• Finnair announces changes to its Winter schedule
• Business class by text message for Finnair's frequent flyers
• Finnair Catering and white-collar staff unions conclude stabilisation agreement
• Finnair offers its customers online security
• Finnair issues EUR 120 million hybrid bond