Finnair Traffic Performance in March 2026
Finnair Plc Investor News 9 April 2026 at 9:00 a.m. EEST
A noticeable rise in both passenger load factor and unit revenue - fuel hedging ratio 82% for Q2
In March, Finnair carried 1,015,500 passengers, which was 10.8% more than in March 2025, when the number of passengers was limited by capacity reductions following industrial action. Passenger numbers grew significantly in Asian and European traffic and slightly also in Domestic traffic, while declining slightly in North Atlantic traffic. In Middle Eastern traffic, the number of passengers dropped sharply, as flights to and from Doha and Dubai were suspended on 28 February due to the heightened safety situation in the region.
Overall capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased by 2.3%. In the comparison period, capacity was limited by industrial action. In March 2026, capacity grew significantly in Asian traffic, clearly in European traffic and slightly also in Domestic traffic. In addition to the end of the industrial action that burdened the comparison period, the capacity increase was primarily driven by added frequencies to Osaka, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Capacity in North Atlantic traffic declined clearly due to fewer frequencies to Dallas and Los Angeles. In Middle Eastern traffic, capacity experienced a significant decline. Including wet lease outs, overall capacity increased by 3.9%.
Finnair's traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), increased by 15.7%, supported by lower market capacity due to the conflict in the Middle East. RPKs saw growth in Asian, European and Domestic traffic, while declining in Middle Eastern and North Atlantic traffic.
Passenger load factor (PLF) improved by 9.5% points to 82.4%. PLF improved across traffic areas, except for Middle Eastern traffic.
Revenue per available seat kilometre (RASK) increased by 21.4%, supported by an improved passenger load factor.
Total cargo tonnes declined by 4.8%, driven by a sharp decline in the Middle East. Revenue cargo tonne kilometres declined by 4.1%.
In March, 89.5% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule compared to 85.8% in the comparison period.
Jet fuel prices have increased significantly since the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East at the end of February. At the end of March, Finnair's fuel hedging ratio was 82% for Q2 and averaged 69% for April-December 2026.
Traffic statistics for April 2026 will be published on Friday 8 May 2026.
| Finnair Traffic Performance March 2026 |
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| Month | Change % | YTD | Change % |
| Total traffic |
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| Passengers 1,000 | 1,015.5 | 10.8 | 2,832.2 | 7.3 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 3,205.2 | 2.3 | 9,454.2 | 3.6 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 2,640.7 | 15.7 | 7,378.5 | 9.6 |
| Passenger load factor % | 82.4 | 9.5p | 78.0 | 4.3p |
| Available tonne kilometres mill | 473.8 | 2.5 | 1,412.5 | 4.9 |
| Revenue tonne kilometres mill | 308.3 | 10.4 | 867.4 | 8.4 |
| Revenue per available seat kilometre €c | 9.1 | 21.4 | 8.2 | 8.2 |
| Available seat kilometres incl. wet lease out mill | 3,403.1 | 3.9 | 10,071.1 | 3.9 |
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| Asia |
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| Passengers 1,000 | 161.4 | 38.8 | 426.8 | 18.6 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 1,324.9 | 10.5 | 3,789.7 | 9.0 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 1,242.7 | 37.5 | 3,288.1 | 18.2 |
| Passenger load factor % | 93.8 | 18.4p | 86.8 | 6.8p |
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| Europe |
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| Passengers 1,000 | 609.8 | 13.3 | 1,657.3 | 8.4 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 1,324.0 | 9.6 | 3,667.7 | 3.9 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 1,000.8 | 15.0 | 2,690.5 | 10.0 |
| Passenger load factor % | 75.6 | 3.5p | 73.4 | 4.1p |
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| North Atlantic |
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| Passengers 1,000 | 33.1 | - 2.2 | 95.0 | 4.3 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 352.4 | - 8.8 | 1,082.3 | 4.7 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 258.4 | - 3.0 | 749.6 | 5.0 |
| Passenger load factor % | 73.3 | 4.4p | 69.3 | 0.2p |
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| Middle East |
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| Passengers 1,000 | 0.2 | - 99.1 | 58.4 | - 37.2 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 1.5 | - 98.9 | 307.6 | - 38.6 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 1.0 | - 99.1 | 260.8 | - 37.4 |
| Passenger load factor % | 65.4 | - 11.7p | 84.8 | 1.6p |
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| Domestic |
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| Passengers 1,000 | 210.9 | 3.8 | 594.6 | 4.6 |
| Available seat kilometres mill | 202.2 | 1.7 | 606.9 | 4.0 |
| Revenue passenger kilometres mill | 137.9 | 3.5 | 389.4 | 4.7 |
| Passenger load factor % | 68.2 | 1.2p | 64.2 | 0.4p |
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| Cargo traffic |
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| - Europe tonnes | 2,783.9 | 14.2 | 7,144.8 | 8.7 |
| - North Atlantic tonnes | 1,393.2 | - 6.5 | 4,471.9 | 10.1 |
| - Middle East tonnes | 1.6 | - 99.9 | 2,731.3 | - 36.2 |
| - Asia tonnes | 7,375.7 | 8.7 | 19,254.9 | 9.7 |
| - Domestic tonnes | 23.4 | - 4.1 | 67.1 | - 0.4 |
| - Cargo flights, tonnes* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cargo traffic tonnes total | 11,577.7 | - 4.8 | 33,670.1 | 3.5 |
| Revenue cargo tonne kilometres mill | 72.2 | - 4.1 | 207.6 | 4.8 |
* Including purchased traffic
- Change %: Change compared to the corresponding period in the previous year (p = points)
- Available seat kilometres (ASK): Total number of seats available × great circle distance in kilometres
- Revenue passenger kilometres (RPK): Number of revenue passengers × great circle distance in kilometres
- Passenger load factor (PLF): Share of revenue passenger kilometres of available seat kilometres
- Available tonne kilometres: Number of tonnes of capacity for carriage of passengers, cargo and mail × great circle distance in kilometres
- Revenue tonne kilometres (RTK): Total revenue load consisting of passengers, cargo and mail × great circle distance in kilometres
- Revenue per available seat kilometre (RASK): Revenue / available seat kilometres
The reported distance-based traffic figures do not consider longer routings caused by airspace closures but are based on the great-circle distance in accordance with the industry practice.
The figures presented are unaudited.