In the first quarter, a total of 4,917,672 passengers used Finavia airports (4,644,491 in January–March 2015). The passenger volume increased by 5.9%, compared with January–March 2015.
International traffic at Helsinki Airport continues to grow
A total of 3,922,841 people (3,674,973) passed through Helsinki Airport in January–March, which is 6.7% more than during the same period in 2015. Scheduled traffic increased by 7.3%.
International transit travel, which is strategically important to Finavia, developed more moderately during the early part of the year, and passenger volumes increased by 2.0%. Regarding Asia, the relatively greatest growth was related to international transit passengers departing from China.
“This year has started off well for air traffic in Finland. We also expect the growth of international transit traffic to become more rapid at the end of the year, when new long-distance connections will be introduced”, says Joni Sundelin, director responsible for Finavia's airport network, marketing and sales.
Lapland increases domestic passenger volumes
In the first quarter of the year, 1,537,996 people travelled on domestic flights, compared to 1,423,833 passengers in the corresponding period of 2015. Passenger volume increased by 8.0% in the first quarter.
The extensive increase in domestic traffic is particularly the result of Lapland having a greater appeal. Passenger volumes of tourist airports in Lapland increased by a total of 13.5%. International passenger volumes increased by 25.4% in Lapland.
Through the introduction of new connections, tourism in Lapland is also expected to increase in the next winter season. An increasing number of passengers travel to Lapland on scheduled flights via Helsinki Airport.
“Over the last few years, domestic air traffic volumes have varied according to the competitive situation and the changes in the financial situation. It is possible to clearly identify specific areas in Finland, where air traffic is doing well. In Lapland, for example, we have seen what can be accomplished through determined cooperation. The efforts made with tourism operators in Lapland are now providing results through higher traffic volumes”, says Sundelin.
In addition to Lapland, domestic traffic volumes increased in Kokkola-Pietarsaari, Jyväskylä, Turku and Oulu.
The volume of cargo traffic has increased, too. The volume was 5.8% higher than during the previous year.
Finavia published monthly traffic statistics at http://www.finavia.fi/en/finavia-corporation/statistics/2016/
In this press release, all percentages of change describe the development in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015.
