The number of overflights managed by Finavia's regional air control in Finnish airspace remained at a record-high level. The total number of overflights managed by Finnish regional air control last year was 31,750 (31,465 in 2012).
The number of overflights increased by only 0.9%, which means that the pace of growth was significantly slower than in recent years: in 2012, the growth was 9.6% and in 2011, it was 8.0%.
- There was a clear turn in the progress of overflights in June and July. At the first part of the year, the number of flights mainly decreased, but by the end of the year, the number of overflights managed by Finavia increased in comparison to the previous year. The weak development of global economy in 2013 continued to affect the demand for air traffic, even though international air traffic picked up by the end of the year. In addition, airlines operate with aircraft which are larger and larger, which also contributes to reducing the number of overflights, says Raine Luojus, Finavia's air navigation director.
The providing of air navigation services is funded with the cash flow of Finavia Corporation and loss are in practice covered by income of Helsinki Airport. The operating environment of air navigation services is changing rapidly in Europe. The EU has a strong intent to harmonise European airspace control and reduce air navigation costs, such as overflight fees charged from airlines.
The unprofitable air navigation business, the challenging performance goals set by the EU, the poor development of the air traffic sector and the decrease in ticket prices are reasons for Finavia continuing the efficiency improvement of air navigation, like other European competitors, in 2013. In 2013, the efficiency improvement of the air navigation business continued by deciding on establishing the Finnish area air traffic control centre in Vantaa.
The total number of overflights in Finnish airspace in 2013 was 1.9% higher than in 2012. The total number of overflights was 48,877 (47,988). In addition to overflights directed by Finavia’s Area Control Centre, Swedish and Norwegian air traffic control direct domestic flights visiting the Finnish airspace.
Overflights resulted in more than €16 million in turnover to Finavia's air navigation business in 2012. The total turnover of the air navigation business in 2012 was more than €66.1 million which is not enough to cover the expenses caused by providing the services.
