Finland’s national carrier Finnair is seeing increased transit traffic on its Asia routes, as Scandinavian rival SAS reduces services and global disruptions reshape travel patterns, Reuters reports.
The shift follows SAS’s restructuring, which has concentrated long-haul operations in Copenhagen and reduced routes from Stockholm. As a result, more passengers from Sweden and Norway are now flying to Asia via Helsinki instead.
Finnair currently operates 19 long-haul routes from its Helsinki hub, compared to 11 from Stockholm by SAS. The Finnish airline said it has seen a clear increase in Nordic transit passengers on its network.
At the same time, disruption linked to the Middle East has affected global aviation. Higher fuel prices and route challenges have forced airlines, including SAS, to cancel flights and raise ticket prices, while also redirecting demand toward alternative routes.
Finnair reported that revenue from its Asian routes rose by nearly 15% from 2024 to 2025. The airline has also benefited from fuel hedging, which improved its first-quarter operating result by around 40 million euros.
The developments have strengthened Finnair’s position in the Nordic market, particularly in Norway, where long-haul options remain limited. The airline said it expects to continue operating independently, with the Finnish state holding a majority stake.
