The number of passengers who travelled with Viking Line in 2018 was 6,411,537. One year before, the corresponding figure was 6,881,149 and is attributable to increased capacity in the form of the leased catamaran Viking FSTR on the Helsinki–Tallinn route, according to the information published by the company.
During 2018, the aim was to monitor the ticket price level, which together with dry-dockings and charter trips affected the volume trend. The number of cargo units during the year was 128,549 and the number of passenger cars was 704,799.
Turku, Stockholm and Tallin
On the Turku–Åland Islands–Stockholm route, passenger volume on Viking Grace and Amorella was 1,858,880 (1,885,643). Both vessels were dry-docked in January 2018.
On the Helsinki–Mariehamn–Stockholm route, which is served by Mariella and Gabriella, there were 969,307 (1,036,559) passengers during the year. In January, Gabriella served the Turku–Stockholm route during Viking Grace’s and Amorella’s dry-dockings and had its own dry-docking for 14 days in April.
A total of 1,947,952 (2,341,440) passengers travelled between Helsinki and Tallinn. The higher passenger volume last year is explained by the leased catamaran Viking FSTR, which served the route during the period April 10 to October 15, 2017.
Viking Line offered 38 per cent fewer departures on this route in 2018 compared to 2017. Along with Viking XPRS, the route was served between June 6 and August 12, 2018 by Mariella and Gabriella. Capacity utilisation on the two vessels was the best since summer traffic on these vessels was launched in 2014.
Increase in the shorter route
On the short route across the Sea of Åland, Mariehamn–Kapellskär, the number of passengers on Rosella increased to 732,965 (722,269). Rosella set in 2018 a record for the number of passengers, only in 2009 more passengers travelled with Rosella, but then there were nearly 40 more departures offered.
A favourable trend is discernible among people travelling with cars and Swedish cruise passengers.
Passenger volume on Viking Cinderella’s cruises from Stockholm was 894,520 (890,689). These figures are stable, with an increased market share. Vessel dry-dockings have affected passenger volumes to some extent, but so has the company's aim to monitor the ticket price level.
"There has continued to be tough competition on prices, to the benefit of the passengers. In our main markets, traffic was stable. The number of Russian passengers increased slightly, which is good news", sayd Jan Hanses, President and CEO of Viking Line.
