An Empirical Analysis of Finnish Air Travel Patterns

Music City Center 

As one of only eight countries in the world that lie partially within the Arctic Circle, Finland exhibits very interesting air passenger traffic flows. The three airports with the greatest passenger volumes are Helsinki-Vantaa, Oulu, and Rovaniemi. At the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, domestic passenger flows peak during the cold weather months, while international traffic peaks during the summer months. Both domestic and international travel reach their respective apexes during the Spring and Fall months in Oulu. In Rovaniemi, the coldest destination of the three areas, air passenger flows reach their maxima every year in December. To date, there have been very few formal studies of air travel demand in Finland. Because of unique geographic features, location, and tourism patterns, the three principal destination markets in this country merit additional research. Air traffic has grown substantially in recent years and econometric modeling analysis may yield interesting results that may differ from those of other regions. Santa Claus and Aurora Borealis effects are examples of seasonal and cyclical variables that potentially affect air travel to, and within, this Nordic economy.

Air Passenger Traffic

Business Cycles

Polar Tourism 

Business and Economic Statistics Section