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Sep 09, 2020 (newstodate): Finavia is warning of the danger that Helsinki Airport may lose its position as a prime transfer hub for Europe-Asia traffic.
   In an interview with a Finnish media, Finavia's CEO Kimmo Maki is airing fears that Finland's very restrictive measures including a severe lockdown to combat Covid-19 may damage the airport's competitive power against other airports in markets that are less restrictive.
   Helsinki Airport is today down 93 percent in volume of transfer passengers, while other European airports have seen a speedier recovery of passenger traffic.
   -We cannot afford that. When passenger numbers are so low, Finland loses revenue and jobs. Air traffic has significant multiplier effects on the tourism, services and construction sectors, among others, Mr Makki says.
   According to Finavia, there were still 200 direct international destinations routes from Finland in January. In September, this is down to only about 40 destinations. And in August, Helsinki Airport operated about 160 daily flights, down 69.5 percent, y-o-y.
   Comparable European airports are now operating up to 50-70 percent of their normal flights, while only 30 percent of the normal volumes are today operated at Helsinki Airport, entailing a risk that that Finland may lose market share, the interview reads.

   Last year, Helsinki was ranked #6 among 16 European airports, counting the number of Chinese airports served non-stop from Helsinki in August 2019.