Future growth opportunities
Air transport has historically focused on the travel market within and between Western Europe and North America. Growth opportunities in these markets are limited and require new operating models. Over-capacity and a relatively new segment, the budget airlines, have lowered price and income levels in most forms of transport.
Growth in worldwide passenger volumes will be concentrated in the coming years increasingly in Eastern Europe and Asia. Nearly four billion people live in the area of Asia and Eastern Europe. Of this proportion of the world's population only a fraction already travel by air.
Although there have been uncertainties associated with Asia in recent times, the long-term growth potential in the Far East is not in doubt. The geographical location of Finnair's home airport on the main flight corridor between Europe and Asia gives Finnair a permanent competitive advantage and an excellent opportunity to service the growing passenger streams between the two continents. |