Airlines mull winter flight cut to and from Lapland due to fuel price hike

Although several airlines are increasing the number of flights to and from Lapland for the winter season, the abnormal rise in fuel prices could force the airlines to cancel some flights, reported national broadcaster Yle recently.

The risk particularly concerns the flight operators during the months out of the peak tourism season.

’This is one of the risks in the industry overall, because the fuel price is now exceptionally high,’ said the Yle report, quoting Henri Hansson, Director of the airport network of Finavia as saying.

The most lucrative months for airlines are December and January. During that time, an increasing number of tourists influx to Lapland from several different countries while the number is lower in November and February-March.

’Over 30 percent of an airline's cost structure consists of fuel-related costs. It clearly affects the profitability of airlines and routes. Even rapid changes can occur on certain individual connections,’ Hansson told Yle.

The Finavia Director, however, does not believe that airlines would cancel entire routes or large numbers of flights.

Compared to a year ago, the fuel price has even doubled to about 1,500 US dollars per tonne, said Petri Vuori, Finavia's Director responsible for route development.

The price increased following the war in Middle East that broken out in the Strait of Hormuz region. Fuels and their raw materials pass precisely through the Strait of Hormuz, and passage has become significantly more difficult.

Most flights to Lapland in the upcoming winter will arrive from Central Europe and Great Britain, as in previous years.

However, during the peak periods — December and January — the flight tickets may be expensive due to dynamic pricing and flights may already be sold out completely.

The routes also serve local Lapland residents.

’I encourage (locals) to use the routes, because using the routes ensures the continuity of flight connections in all markets,’ said Hansson added.

Hansson and Johan Juujärvi, Manager of Rovaniemi Airport, admitted that during the peak periods flight ticket prices could be expensive but outside the most sought-after days tickets can be obtained at more affordable price.

They observed that the most sought-after and most expensive flight days are generally Saturdays and weekends. They predicted that the possible biggest rush at Rovaniemi Airport in next winter will be Saturday, December 19.

“The week before Christmas and the week after Christmas are usually the busiest,” Juujärvi told Yle.