Finavia reports increase in 2022 passenger volumes
Posted: 16 January 2023 | International Airport Review | No comments yet
Finavia has seen the number of passengers travelling through its airports increase by 187% compared to the previous year.


Finavia’s latest annual statistics on air traffic show that 15.4 million passengers passed through Finavia’s airports in 2022.
A new record was set in Christmas flights to Lapland, and Helsinki Airport’s European flights have recovered excellently.
“We are actively working with airlines and tourism organisations to strengthen flight connections,” commented Petri Vuori, airport company Finavia’s Senior Vice President, Sales and Route Development.
“In 2022, Finland had 130 direct flight destinations around the world. Last year, the number of passengers increased, especially on European flights.”
A total of 15,405,024 passengers travelled through Finavia’s airports in 2022. Of these, 78% took an international flight and 22% a domestic one. The number of passengers increased by 187% compared to last year.
The total number of flight operations, i.e. takeoffs and landings, at Finavia’s airports was 167,409, which is 83% more than in the previous year.
The most popular flight destinations from Finavia’s airports were Stockholm, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Copenhagen. Of all the international flights, the largest number of passengers were on the flights to Germany, Spain, Sweden, the UK and France.
Helsinki Airport’s European flight connections show good recovery
In 2022, Helsinki Airport had a total of 12.9 million passengers, 87% of whom were international passengers and 13% domestic passengers. Flight connections to Europe and the United States have recovered excellently. However, the share of transfer travelling between Asia and Europe remained small, as a result of which only about 70% of the travelling at Helsinki Airport returned compared to the period before the pandemic.
Lapland’s airports hit a new record in December
A total of 364,834 passengers travelled through Rovaniemi, Kittilä, Ivalo, Kuusamo and Kemi-Tornio airports in December 2022. At Rovaniemi Airport alone, the number of Christmas passengers increased by 40% (158,757 passengers) and at Kittilä Airport by 13% (101,868).
Altogether, 1.2 million passengers travelled through Lapland’s airports in 2022, representing a year-on-year increase of 93%.
“Already about half of the flights to Lapland are scheduled flights. Regular scheduled flights are very important for the region’s appeal, residents and livelihoods. They attract passengers from a wider area than the city of departure, thanks to their comprehensive connecting flights,” says Vuori.
A total of 2.5 million people travelled through the regional network airports, which is 126% more than last year.
Are you ready to meet the expectations of Gen Z travellers? Join our virtual panel to discover how airports can engage the next generation of passengers.
16 Oct 2025 | 14:00 PM BST | FREE Virtual Panel Discussion
Join us for this interactive session where industry leaders will explore how airports are adapting to the needs and values of Gen Z, the first truly digital-native, socially conscious, and tech-savvy generation.
What You’ll Learn:
- What drives Gen Z travel decisions, and how to respond
- How to harness digital tools, social media, and mobile-first strategies
- How sustainability, inclusivity, and personalised experiences shape Gen Z’s airport expectations
- Real-world examples from leading airports that are successfully engaging younger travellers
Don’t miss your chance to learn from the airports leading this change – Register Now – It’s Free!
Related topics
Related airports
Helsinki Airport (HEL), Ivalo Airport (IVL), Kemi-Tornio Airport, Kittilä Airport (KTT), Kuusamo Airport (KAO), Rovaniemi Airport (RVN)