The total number of passengers at Finnish airports last year was just over 15.5 million. The year before the koruna, the figure was close to 30 million.
Airport passenger numbers have recovered from the years of high interest rates, but they are still well behind the pre-crisis period.
The total number of passengers at all Finnish airports was just over 15.5 million last year, and in 2019 the figure was close to 26.3 million. However, there has been a significant year-on-year increase. Passenger numbers include both scheduled and charter passengers.
For example, the number of passengers on flights from Oulu airport in 2022 was almost 640 000, compared to just over 300 000 in 2021.
Helsinki–Vantaa airport had the most passengers last year, the number was almost 13 million. The reading for 2019 was almost ten million more, almost 22 million.
Oulu Airport still has a long way to go to reach its peak years
– The number of passengers between Oulu and Helsinki and holiday flights has not yet risen to the previous level. The number of business travelers has not decreased as much as perhaps feared. Air travel is increasing, but there is still a long way to go before the peak years, i.e. one million, says Sallinen.
At the end of October, the airline Norwegian stopped the Helsinki-Oulu flights for the winter season for the time being. The reason for stopping was that there was not enough demand on the domestic route between Helsinki and Oulu, and it has not recovered as the company had hoped.
According to Liisa Sallinen, a pent-up desire to travel has been detected at the airport, but she does not dare to estimate when the peak years will be reached.
*You can discuss the topic until 23:00 on January 21.*