Robust growth continued in Asian traffic in April
In April, Finnair carried 1,069,500 passengers, 11.4% more than in the corresponding period of 2017. The number of passengers grew in Asian traffic (+32.1%), European flights (+8.1%) and domestic traffic (+10.6%), and decreased as a result of changes in the traffic programme on North American routes (-26.0%).
Finnair’s overall capacity measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) increased in April by 15.7% year-on-year. Finnair’s traffic measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs) grew by 15.4%. The Passenger Load Factor (PLF) in total traffic decreased by 0.2 points to 82.6%.
In April 52% of Finnair’s ASKs were in Asian traffic, 38% on European routes and the rest in North American and domestic traffic. Finnair’s long-haul capacity was increased by the A350 aircraft introduced after the reference period. The ASK growth in Asian traffic was 33.7% and it was allocated to added frequencies especially to Bangkok, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Chongqing. In North American traffic ASKs decreased by 28.3% a result of changes in the traffic program. This year, flights to Miami were closed at the end of the winter season in March, while in 2017 Finnair flew to Miami also in April. In addition, flights to Chicago began this year later in April than in 2017.
The 5.0% ASK growth in European traffic derived from the increase in the narrow-body fleet size year-on-year and the additional seating capacity added to some if its existing narrow-body aircraft. Capacity growth was directed at added frequencies to several destinations, and especially to Stockholm and Berlin. Flights to new destination Stuttgart began at the end of April. ASKs in domestic traffic increased by 10.1%, reflecting added capacity from Helsinki to destinations in Northern Finland.
RPKs grew 32.6% in Asian traffic, 4.3% in European traffic and 10.6% in domestic traffic, and decreased by 30.4% in North American traffic. The PLF was 86.7% in Asian traffic, 81.5% in North American traffic, 79.2% in European traffic and 66.9% in domestic traffic. The PLF in total traffic decreased by 0.2 points to 82.6%.
Available Scheduled Cargo Tonne Kilometres increased by 21.1% year-on-year. Revenue Scheduled Cargo Tonne Kilometres increased by 18.9% driven by the good cargo market development in the Nordic countries and Japan. Finnair’s total cargo capacity also included three weekly freighter flights between Helsinki and Brussels, operated by DHL. Cargo flight volumes decreased from the comparison period when Finnair rented cargo space from Japan Airlines.
In April 82.9% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule (86.7).
Traffic statistics for May 2018 will be published on Wednesday, 6 June 2018.
Finnair Traffic Performance April 2018
| April | % Change | YTD | % Change | |
| Total traffic | ||||
| Passengers 1000 | 1,069.5 | 11.4 | 4,087.0 | 14.7 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 3,280.8 | 15.7 | 12,946.5 | 18.1 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 2,711.3 | 15.4 | 10,727.1 | 19.6 |
| Passenger load factor % | 82.6 | -0.2p | 82.9 | 1.1p |
| Cargo tonnes total | 12,616.7 | 1.9 | 43,333.7 | -2.3 |
| Available tonne kilometres mill | 479.0 | 14.4 | 1,914.4 | 17.6 |
| Revenue tonne-kilometres mill | 322.1 | 12.7 | 1,235.0 | 15.4 |
| Asia | ||||
| Passengers 1000 | 195.7 | 32.1 | 785.6 | 28.2 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 1,714.6 | 33.7 | 6,751.9 | 27.5 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 1,487.0 | 32.6 | 5,960.9 | 28.6 |
| Passenger load factor % | 86.7 | -0.7p | 88.3 | 0.7p |
| Europe | ||||
| Passengers 1000 | 651.6 | 8.1 | 2,281.0 | 12.2 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 1,247.7 | 5.0 | 4,500.1 | 7.7 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 988.4 | 4.3 | 3,522.0 | 9.6 |
| Passenger load factor % | 79.2 | -0.5p | 78.3 | 1.4p |
| North Atlantic | ||||
| Passengers 1000 | 19.0 | -26.0 | 95.0 | 6.4 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 157.4 | -28.3 | 885.6 | 7.2 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 128.3 | -30.4 | 718.2 | 9.1 |
| Passenger load factor % | 81.5 | -2.4p | 81.1 | 1.4p |
| Domestic | ||||
| Passengers 1000 | 203.2 | 10.6 | 925.4 | 11.7 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 161.1 | 10.1 | 808.9 | 21.5 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 107.7 | 10.6 | 525.9 | 14.1 |
| Passenger load factor % | 66.9 | 0.3p | 65.0 | -4.2p |
| Cargo Traffic | ||||
| Europe tonnes | 1,808.0 | -14.6 | 5,665.6 | -25.3 |
| North Atlantic tonnes | 675.8 | -15.4 | 2,344.5 | -13.3 |
| Asia tonnes | 9,417.7 | 24.1 | 32,687.0 | 18.8 |
| Domestic tonnes | 45.1 | -63.0 | 187.2 | -65.6 |
| Cargo scheduled traffic total tonnes | 11,946.7 | 12.4 | 40,884.3 | 6.6 |
| Cargo flights, tonnes** | 670.0 | -61.8 | 2,449.4 | -59.3 |
| Cargo Traffic tonnes total | 12,616.7 | 1.9 | 43,333.7 | -2.3 |
| Available tonne kilometres* mill | 127.4 | 13.5 | 480.0 | 11.1 |
| Revenue tonne kilometres mill | 79.5 | 5.1 | 275.2 | 2.6 |
| Available sched.cargo tonne kms*, mill. | 125.8 | 21.1 | 474.2 | 18.9 |
| Revenue sched.cargo tonne kms, mill. | 78.4 | 18.9 | 271.2 | 14.5 |
| Cargo load factor* % | 62.4 | -5.0p | 57.3 | -4.8p |
| – North-Atlantic cargo load factor* % | 52.9 | 3.7p | 50.0 | -1.2p |
| – Asia cargo load factor* % | 70.2 | -2.9p | 64.4 | -2.2p |
| Scheduled traffic Cargo load factor*, % | 62.3 | -1.1p | 57.2 | -2.2p |
* Operational calculatory capacity
** Including purchased traffic
– Change %: Change compared to the figures of the respective periods in the previous year
(p = percentage 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.
Finnair Plc Investor News 8 May 2018 at 09:00 am
