Finnair operating loss shrinks as Asia demand rises (updated)
22/04/2026 08:03
Adds comparable operating loss against estimates, revenue, context, CEO quote and outlook detail in bullets HELSINKI, April 22 (Reuters) - Finnish airline Finnair FIA1S.HE reported a smaller-than-expected comparable operating loss for the first quarter, and said its revenue rose 12.1% year-on-year as demand for Asian flight rose amid disruption in the Middle East. January-March comparable operating loss stood at 0.6 million euros ($0.71 million), an improvement from a year-ago loss of 62.6 million euros, which was negatively affected by labour conflicts. Analysts had on average forecast a loss of 2.1 million euros in the first quarter of 2026, according to a poll provided by Finnair. Revenue rose 12.1% to 778.1 million euros from a year earlier. "Successful cost management and, in particular, increased demand for our Asian flights counterbalanced the negative impact of the sharp rise in jet fuel prices," CEO Turkka Kuusisto said. Middle East war poses risks related to the availability of fuel, which, if realised, could have a significant negative impact on capacity growth and financial result. Guidance unchanged: Finnair still estimates its revenue to be 3.3 billion–3.4 billion euros and comparable operating result to be 120 million–190 million euros in 2026. The guidance is based on the assumption that there will be no significant disruptions in fuel availability. (Reporting by Essi Lehto, editing by Terje Solsvik) ((essi.lehto@thomsonreuters.com; +358 50 541 2375))