In October, Finnair carried 433,300 passengers, which was 330.0% more than in October 2020. The number of passengers in October 2021 was 45.3% more than in September 2021.
The COVID-19 impact, including the strict travel restrictions imposed by several countries, still affected all passenger traffic figures. It was particularly visible in the North Atlantic and Asian figures.
The overall capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased in October by 252.8% year on year and by 31.6% month on month. Finnair operated, on average, 173 daily flights (cargo-only included), which was 130.7% more than in October 2020 and 20.1% more than in September 2021. The differences between capacity figures compared to October 2020 are explained by the longer average stage length of flights operated and by the larger gauge of aircraft operated. Finnair’s traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), increased by 419.3% year on year and by 51.3% month on month. The passenger load factor (PLF) increased by 14.9 points to 46.6% year on year and by 6.1% points month on month.
The ASK increase in Asian traffic was 87.6% year-on-year. In European traffic, the ASKs were up by 367.4%. The ASKs in domestic traffic increased by 33.5%.
RPKs increased in Asian traffic by 70.3%, in European traffic by 726.6% and in domestic traffic by 61.2% year-on-year.
The PLF was 17.4% in Asian traffic and 15.1% in North Atlantic traffic, but both were supported by the very strong cargo operations and a high cargo load factor. The PLF was 79.5% in European traffic, which is already close to the pre-pandemic figures. The PLF in domestic traffic was 72.0%.
Passenger numbers increased in Asian traffic by 67.9%, in European traffic by 545.7% and in domestic traffic by 71.6% year-on-year.
In North Atlantic traffic, ASK, RPK and passenger number growth rates year-on-year cannot be calculated as there were no passenger flights in October 2020.