Finnish airports saw an increase in passenger numbers in 2023, but remain below pre-pandemic volumes, according to figures released this week by airport operator Finavia.
Domestic Travel Recovers
An estimated 18.3 million passengers passed through Finnish airports last year, a 19% increase over 2022.
Approximately 80% of these trips were international flights, with the remainder domestic routes.
“We are actively trying to improve Finland’s accessibility by strengthening air connections in cooperation with airlines and tourism organizations,” said Petri Vuori, senior vice president of sales and route development at Finavia.
The company reported over 130 direct routes from Finland to destinations around the world in 2023.
Vuori stated that passenger numbers increased particularly on European flights, but positive trends emerged for long-haul routes to North America and Asia as well.
Record Numbers in Lapland
The increase was especially pronounced in Finnish Lapland, which saw record passenger volumes in November and December.
The region’s airports served 547,773 arriving and departing passengers during the two months.
For the full year, around 1.5 million passengers passed through Lapland airports, reflecting a 20% jump over 2022.
Helsinki Remains Finland’s Busiest
Helsinki Airport retained its title as Finland’s busiest, with 15.3 million passengers in 2023.
This included an estimated 2 million transfer passengers using Helsinki as a hub.
Still, the figure falls far short of Helsinki’s pre-pandemic transfer passenger count, which reached 3.6 million in 2019.
Industry experts cited Russia’s airspace ban following its invasion of Ukraine as a key factor preventing a full rebound.
The ban particularly impacted flights between Finland and destinations in Asia.
Outlook Uncertain
While last year’s passenger gains are a positive sign for Finland’s recovering tourism industry, a return to pre-COVID traffic levels remains uncertain given continued economic and geopolitical headwinds.
For now, airports and airlines are focused on adding routes and capacity to meet strengthening demand.
However, analysts said it could still be years before passenger volumes return to the heights seen in 2019.
ETIAS May Aid Tourism Rebound
Industry officials hope that the upcoming launch of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) in May 2025 will help drive a rebound in visitors from Europe and other eligible countries once implemented.
The new pre-travel clearance system aims to boost security while facilitating seamless entry for short-term travelers.
By removing friction from the entry process, the ETIAS has the potential to encourage more European visitors to experience Finland’s northern lights, design scene, and summer festivals.
The visa waiver program may also incentivize digital nomads, students, and other long-term immigrants from EU nations to relocate.
However, lasting gains rely on political stability and open borders across the Schengen region.
Schengen Area Key to Aviation Recovery
While ETIAS streamlines procedures for EU entrants, aviation executives stress that stability among Schengen member states remains paramount to a sustained traffic recovery.
Lingering pandemic restrictions along with border conflicts have disrupted intra-European travel over the past three years.
Only by safeguarding freedom of movement across the Schengen zone can European hubs like Helsinki retain their transfer passenger volumes.
Ensuring robust passenger rights and seamless transfers between Schengen countries constitutes the cornerstone for reviving continent-wide tourism as well as Finland’s hub ambitions.
Recovery Still in Progress
While the latest figures mark a step in the right direction, Finland’s airports have yet to fully rebound from the pandemic’s devastating impact on global travel.
Operators remain focused on rebuilding route networks and wooing passengers back, but analysts caution that pre-crisis passenger volumes may not return for years amid a challenging geopolitical and economic climate.
For now, airports will celebrate gains where they can find them, while striving to recapture the record traffic levels of the not-so-distant past.
Though optimistic about future growth, executives understand that the recovery still has a long runway ahead.