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Finnair posted a E38.8m (US$43.6m) net loss for Q1, marking a sharp decline from the record E13.4m net profit it delivered in Q1 2018, partly driven by excess capacity from the airline’s incoming Airbus A350 fleet. During the 3 months ended March 31, Finnair’s passenger numbers rose 4.3% year-over-year to a record 3.1m, growing revenue 5% to E672.9m. Ancillaries were up 4%, in line with traffic growth, despite Finnair removing its online booking fee. The revenue growth was offset by excess capacity, however. Finnair has taken delivery of 2 A350s since late 2018, pushing capacity up 10.4% and exceeding the additional demand. This—coupled with a new revenue management system that favours yield over loads—caused the airline’s average load factor to drop 4.6 points to 78.3%. <br/>

Cathay Pacific will raise its seasonal Hong Kong-Christchurch service from thrice-weekly to 4-times weekly, when the carrier resumes the route later this year. Christchurch airport says the carrier will also commence the seasonal flights 1 month earlier, from November to February, instead of December to February it operated in the previous season. This equates to 19 more flights, and 49% more seats offered during the season, it adds. The service will continue to be flown using Airbus A350 aircraft. Cathay began the seasonal service in December 2017. Cirium schedules data shows that it is the only airline to have non-stop service between the two cities. <br/>