Finnair shares jump 13.1% as airline raises annual revenue and operating result outlook
Key Facts
Finnair shares rose 13.1% during trading on 13 October 2026, according to Investing.com, after the airline raised its revenue and comparable operating result forecasts for the current year. In its guidance update, the company set its expected revenue range at 3.5–3.6 billion euros, up from the previous range of 3.4–3.5 billion euros. It also raised its annual comparable operating result forecast to 175–220 million euros from 120–190 million euros. The guidance revision came after air travel demand exceeded the airline's expectations, Reuters reported, citing the company. The company said "demand for air travel exceeded expectations" as it released preliminary third-quarter results showing higher revenue and a higher comparable operating result than in the same period a year earlier.
According to preliminary unaudited figures published by Finnair, third-quarter revenue was about 953 million euros, compared with 834.9 million euros in the same quarter a year earlier. The preliminary comparable operating result for the same period was about 84 million euros, compared with 50.7 million euros in the comparison period. The company's operations in the third quarter of 2025 were affected by strikes, according to its report for that period. The airline estimated the strikes' direct negative impact on its comparable operating result at about 18 million euros, weakening the result for the comparison period. It said in that quarter's report that "industrial action had a direct negative impact of about 18 million euros on the comparable operating result".
On operating costs, Finnair managed to pass on part of higher fuel costs through ticket prices, Reuters reported, citing the company. The airline said "costs were partly passed on through ticket prices" as travel demand proved stronger than it had estimated. In explaining its first-quarter results, the company said it hedges a high proportion of its fuel purchases, delaying the impact of market price changes on its costs. It said "changes in market prices are reflected in costs with a delay" as a result of this fuel purchasing policy. On future hedging, the company said increasing fuel cost hedging for 2027 would be difficult compared with current levels, according to Reuters coverage.
The improved annual outlook follows a year in which Finnair reported a decline in its comparable operating result, according to its financial statements release for the 2025 financial year. The result that year was 60.1 million euros, compared with 151.4 million euros in the previous year, according to the same release. The company's annual revenue in 2025 was about 3,106.2 million euros, representing a full year preceding the period covered by the airline's revised guidance. On the operating environment, the company listed inflation among the sources of uncertainty facing its business in its outlook update published for investors. It also listed interest rates among the sources of uncertainty, alongside the challenges related to fuel costs and hedging discussed in its comments on the outlook.
As part of its strategy, Finnair aims to achieve a comparable operating profit margin of 6–8% by the end of 2029, according to targets published for investors. The airline also plans investments of 2–2.5 billion euros over the strategy period, according to its announced financial plans. The company's financial targets assume Russian airspace remains closed throughout the strategy period, an assumption it includes among the foundations of those targets. In its regional operations, Finnair cooperates with Qatar Airways in the Middle East, according to the business overview published on its investor website. It also cooperates with Qantas on routes operated by Finnair between Australia and Asia, under cooperation arrangements outlined in the company's network description.
Finnair set 27 October 2026 as the publication date for its full interim report for January to September, according to its investor announcement. The report will cover the period that includes the third quarter, for which the airline released preliminary unaudited figures alongside its higher annual guidance. The company said in its announcement that "Finnair's interim report for January–September 2026 will be published on 27 October 2026". Its outlook and guidance for 2027 will be announced alongside its financial statements release for the 2026 financial year, according to the schedule set out on its outlook and guidance page. On the timing of its next guidance disclosure, the company added that it "will publish its outlook and guidance for 2027 alongside its financial statements release for the 2026 financial year".