The airline stressed that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, including the “exceptionally strict” travel restrictions adopted by Finland, weakened all passenger-related traffic figures. The effects were self-evident, especially in the figures for North America and, compared to August, in Europe.
In September, Finnair operated an average of 83 flights a day, including only cargo flights, an average that is almost 80 per cent lower than in September 2019.
“Differences in capacity figures are explained by shorter flights and smaller aircraft compared to September 2019,” it states. press release published on Wednesday.
Finnair on Tuesday announced it will cut its flight schedule for the winter season, revealing that it plans to fly to a total of 51 domestic and international destinations between the end of October and the end of March.
Its long-distance business focuses on Bangkok, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. Flights from Helsinki to Bangkok are operated only by cargo flights, and passengers are only allowed to travel from Bangkok. Only cargo flights are also operated to New York and Singapore.
The domestic destinations of that winter season are Ivalo, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kemi, Kittilä, Kokkola, Kuopio, Kuusamo, Mariehamn, Oulu, Rovaniemi and Vaasa.
– During the winter season, we maintain critical connections for Finland, because Finnish society and the export industry need air connections. However, we cannot run all the flights originally planned because travel restrictions and the coronavirus situation have had a major impact on the demand for lights, ”said Ole Orvér, Finnair’s Commercial Director.
Although the airline is currently scheduled to fly about 75 passenger flights a day during the winter season, it recalled that the schedule can be updated based on demand. Prior to the pandemic crisis, the airline operated approximately 350 flights daily to more than 100 destinations in Asia, Europe and North America.
According to the plan, the flight schedule is to be extended during the summer season from 1 April 2021.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page