Finnair reports strong December 2023 passenger numbers

In December 2023 Finnair carried 878,200 passengers, which was 5.4% more than in December 2022 and 8.2% more than in November 2023.

The overall capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), increased in December by 7.8% year-on-year and by 8.5% month-on-month. Finnair’s traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs), increased by 5.1% year-on-year and by 8.4% month-on-month. The Passenger Load Factor (PLF) declined by 1.8% points year-on-year and by 0.1% points month-on-month to 70.9%.

The ASK increase in Asian traffic was 14.9% year-on-year explained e.g. by the additional capacity to Japan and South Korea. The North Atlantic capacity decreased by 9.1%. In European traffic, the ASKs were up by 8.3%. The Middle Eastern capacity grew by 4.8% as the flights between Helsinki and Doha related to the Qatar Airways cooperation commenced in mid-December 2022. The ASKs in domestic traffic increased by 1.0%.

RPKs increased in Asian traffic by 8.0% year-on-year but decreased in North Atlantic traffic by 11.4%. They increased by 6.8% in European traffic, by 11.8% in Middle Eastern traffic and by 1.3% in domestic traffic.

In December, the PLF was 68.1% in Asian traffic, 69.6% in North Atlantic traffic, 73.9% in European traffic, 74.8% in Middle Eastern traffic and 68.7% in domestic traffic.

Passenger numbers increased in Asian traffic by 5.2% year-on-year but decreased in North Atlantic traffic by 10.8%. The number of passengers increased by 8.1% in European traffic, by 9.8% in Middle Eastern traffic and by 1.2% in domestic traffic.

Many cargo figures increased year-on-year in December due to Qatar Airways cooperation as well as increased Asian and European capacity. Cargo carried on flights as a part of the cooperation with Qatar Airways, where cargo capacity is fully allocated to and sold by Qatar Airways, is reported by Finnair under Middle East cargo figures. Available cargo tonne kilometres increased by 14.4% and revenue cargo tonne kilometres by 15.8% year-on-year. The total cargo tonnes increased by 16.5% year-on-year and by 3.6% month-on-month.  

In December, 64.7% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule (67.8%). On-time performance was mainly impacted by severe weather conditions.