Investments in quality contributed to a strong increase in Viking Line’s passenger volume

During the fiscal year November 1, 2007−October 31, 2008, a total of 6,171,273 passengers travelled on Viking Line. Passenger numbers rose by 475,930 or 8.4 per cent on all routes. The largest growth was achieved on the Finland–Estonia route, where the new high-speed environmentally friendly vessel Viking XPRS replaced the Rosella late in April, as well as on the route between Mariehamn (Åland Islands, Finland) and Kapellskär (Sweden), where the Rosella replaced the Ålandsfärjan late in May.

Passenger volume during the 2007/2008 fiscal year

Placing the newly built Viking XPRS on the Helsinki (Finland)–Tallinn (Estonia) route late in April 2008 strengthened Viking Line’s offering on this route both in terms of quality and capacity. During the fiscal year, 1,365,163 passengers took Viking Line on this route, or 265,812 (+24.2 per cent) more than in the preceding fiscal year. The number of cars rose by 27.4 per cent.

On the short Mariehamn–Kapellskär route across the Sea of Åland, passenger volume increased from 416,463 to 583.599 or by 167,136 (+40.1 per cent). The number of cars rose by 23.7 per cent. In May, the Rosella replaced the older and smaller Ålandsfärjan on this route, boosting capacity on the route.

Passenger volume on the Turku (Finland)–Åland–Stockholm (Sweden) route, aboard the Isabella and the Amorella, increased from 1,952,428 to 2,029,522, or by 77,094 (+3.9 per cent). The number of cars rose by 4.4 per cent. It should be noted that the Amorella underwent a long dry-docking during the period September 6-26, 2008.

On the Helsinki–Stockholm route, 1,129,959 passengers travelled on Viking Line, a 4.3 per cent decrease compared to the preceding fiscal year. The decrease occurred primarily because the Gabriella also underwent lengthy dry-docking during the period May 5-25, 2008) and also because of extensive upgrading of the cabins on the Mariella and the Gabriella, which limited the available cabin capacity.

Passenger volume on cruises from Stockholm to Mariehamn aboard the Cinderella rose by 1.1 per cent to 1,014,976.

“In our view, the growth in passenger numbers shows greater customer confidence in Viking Line and in the quality-oriented investments we have made. This is also indicated by the increase in the number of members in Viking Line’s club for its regular customers, the Viking Club, by about 100,000 to more than 600,000 this year,” says Nils-Erik Eklund, Managing Director and Chief Executive.

Mariehamn, November 4, 2008

For further information, please contact:

Boris Ekman, Deputy Managing Director, tel: +358 18 277 48
Tuomas Nylund, Director of Corporate Communications, tel: +358 9 123 52 72
Johanna Boijer-Svahnström, Public Relations Manager, +358 18 277 48