Finnish Airports see 79% decrease of passengers in H1

About 1.1 million passengers travelled through Finnish airports operated by Finavia from January to June this year, said Finavia in a press release on Thursday.

The number of passengers was 78.9 per cent lower than in the corresponding period last year.

Helsinki Airport lagged significantly behind other European airports in the first half of the year.

On average, passenger volumes at European airports during the first half of the year were 45 per cent lower than in 2020 and 79 per cent lower than in 2019. For Helsinki Airport, the corresponding figures were79.9 per cent and 92.5 per cent.

"We are lagging behind the rest of Europe in terms of recovery, and the situation in the early part of the summer is only slightly brighter than previously. Several airlines have resumed their European routes and there are few airlines preparing to launch and re-open routes to Finland. It appears that Finland's extensive international flight connections are gradually returning," said Petri Vuori, Senior Vice President, Sales and Route Development of Finavia.

A total of 800,000 passengers travelled through Helsinki Airport in January–June, 70 per cent of whom were passengers on international flights. The busiest routes were Frankfurt and Amsterdam. The number of passengers was 79.9 per cent lower than in the corresponding period last year.

A slight recovery in domestic air travel has been seen in the late spring and early summer at Kuopio, Oulu and Vaasa airports, which have been served by flights throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of passengers at Finavia's network airports increased by 75,1 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year and totalled 260,000 passengers. Cargo and mail volumes in January–June increased by 7,8 per cent compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Over 80,000 tonnes of cargo and mail were transported by air in Finland.

"In April–June, the passenger volume in domestic traffic was higher than in the previous year. Oulu was the most popular destination, with Rovaniemi also near the top of the list. Passengers can fly with confidence from Finavia's airports. We have made various arrangements and taken measures to ensure safe travel," Vuori added.

The passenger volumes of Kittilä Airport are attributable to the busy winter season, which saw the airport emerge as one of the busiest in Finland.

Flights to Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kokkola-Pietarsaari and Kemi-Tornio airports resumed in May on a contract flying basis purchased by the state.