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Finnair returns to profit in 2023, plans more Helsinki-Japan flights
February 16th 2024
Flag carrier, Finnair, flew 11 million passengers in 2023; nearly 21% more than the number of air travellers it carried in 2022. Read More » Revenue increased 26.8%, to 2.99 billion euros (US$3.22 billion). Finnair said its business model of taking advantage of its geographical location to offer the shortest flights between East Asia and Europe had been impacted by the pandemic and the closure of Russian airspace. As a result, capacity on these routes was 55% lower than in 2019. In 2024, the oneworld Alliance carrier will gradually build capacity on its existing routes to Asia, especially Japan. Frequency from Helsinki to Osaka Kansai Airport will increase to five flights a week compared with the northern summer 2023 schedule. Helsinki-Tokyo Narita will operate six times a week alongside daily Helsinki-Tokyo Haneda. Additionally, from May 30 Finnair will return Nagoya flying twice a week from Finland. Overall, Finnair capacity will be about 32% higher year-on-year and will be the equivalent of 62% of 2019 levels. In China, Finnair operates two flights weekly to Shanghai compared with seven destinations in China pre-pandemic. Last year, Finnair began a partnership with Qantas Airways by wet leasing two A330s fly between Australia and Southeast Asia. “This is another important step towards ensuring the efficient and profitable use of our fleet while Russian airspace remains closed,” Finnair said.
