Air Traffic Delays

Judging from Eurocontrol’s Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU) figures for 2005, 5.3 % of flights in Finnish air space (including overflights) were delayed. The proportion of flights delayed fell from the previous year, when the corresponding figure was 6.0 %.

The average length of delay in Finland fell from 15.1 minutes to 14.8 minutes. In Europe the average flight delay was 19 minutes.

Owing to operational measures by CAA air traffic control, 1.5 % of flights were delayed compared with 2.0 % for the previous year. Most delays occurred during September.

Of all flights taking off from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, 3.5 % were delayed, which was the same as for the previous year. The proportion of flights delayed for more than 15 minutes remained small although it did rise from 0.2 % to 0.5 % of all departing flights. According to statistics drawn up by the Association of European Airlines (AEA) which monitors flight delays from airports, during the third quarter of the year an average of 22.1 % of European flights departed late (more than 15 minutes). The corresponding figure for Helsinki-Vantaa Airport was 12.1.

During that period, Helsinki-Vantaa was Europe’s most punctual airport out of 27 studied. Statistics for the final quarter are not yet available.