Finnair reports 'robust demand for cargo' in April 2022
Finnair operated, on average, 236 daily flights (cargo-only included), which was 237.1% more than in April 2021.
In its recently released traffic figures entitled – Finnair Traffic Performance in April 2022 – Finnair reported that its available scheduled cargo tonne kilometres had spiked by 299.0% year-on-year (increased by 1.9% month-on-month).
It further stated that revenue scheduled cargo tonne kilometres increased by 192.8% (increased by 2.1% month-on-month), both due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on scheduled flights, especially in North Atlantic and Asian traffic, in April 2021. Cargo-related available tonne kilometres increased by 42.5% year-on-year (decreased by 2.1% month-on-month) and revenue tonne kilometres increased by 7.5% (decreased by 2.8% month-on-month). These figures also include the cargo-only flights which were mostly replaced by scheduled passenger flights carrying cargo in April. Strong demand for cargo capacity continued in April as the total cargo tonnes increased by 25.8% year-on-year and by 2.4% month-on-month.
In the report released on May 5, Finnair – Finland's largest airline, headquartered in Vantaa – stated that despite the Russian airspace closure, cargo figures improved year-on-year clearly but remained close to March 2022 figures in April.
Finnair reported "robust demand for cargo," despite taking a hit in passenger traffic due to the collective impact of Covid-19 and the closure of the Russian airspace.
According to the report, "The Covid-19 impact, including the strict travel restrictions imposed by several countries due to the Omicron variant, still affected passenger traffic figures. It was particularly visible in the Asian figures. The Russian airspace was closed at the end of February due to the counter sanctions related to the war in Ukraine, which resulted in route and frequency cancellations in Asian traffic. Thanks to robust demand for cargo, Finnair, however, continued operating to most of its Asian destinations despite the longer routings. Thus, the negative impact of the airspace closure on Asian passenger traffic figures, which were already affected by the pandemic, remained moderate in April. The reported traffic figures do not take into account longer routings caused by the airspace closure."
Finnair operated, on average, 236 daily flights (cargo-only included), which was 237.1% more than in April 2021 and 10.8% more than in March 2022. The differences between capacity figures compared to April 2021 are explained by the longer average stage length of flights operated and by the larger gauge of aircraft operated.
Finnair Traffic Performance April 2022
* Based on average operational cargo capacity
** Including purchased traffic
• Change %: Change compared to the figures of the respective periods in the previous year (p = points, N/A = not available).
• 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.
