FINLANDIA © Frank Lose

Eckerö Line: The number of passengers grew significantly in January-September 2023

Eckerö Line's passenger numbers have increased sharply during the first three quarters of 2023. The company operates the Helsinki-Tallinn route and the total passenger growth increased by 16 percent and the number of passengers thus exceeded 1.6 million. It will be correspondingly reflected in the financial result. Especially pleasing for Eckerö Line is that FINLANDIA has cumulatively carried the most passengers this year of all ships on the Helsinki-Tallinn route.

Eckerö Line's freight operations have also developed very positively during the first three quarters of 2023. The company has succeeded in increasing its market share to 37% (versus 31% in 2022 in January-September). Of the freight that Eckerö Line transports, 60% already goes via the port in Nordsjö. FINBO CARGO, which operates from the North Sea, is also a convenient option for car passengers who, thanks to the route, can easily avoid traffic jams in both Helsinki and Tallinn centers.

Eckerö Line has the most satisfied customers in Finland

"Commercial success and growth is not possible without satisfied customers. Finnish passengers voted Eckerö Line to first place in the survey that measures customer satisfaction of Finnish passengers in the ship traffic between Finland and Estonia," says Eckerö Line's CEO Taru Keronen.

The result is part of EPSI Rating's industry studies in ship traffic. The study mapped customer experience and satisfaction at shipping companies operating between Finland and Estonia as well as Finland and Sweden (including Åland).

"Customers, partners and Eckerö Line's highly committed staff deserve congratulations and a big thank you for the first three very successful quarters of 2023," comments Rederi Eckerö's managing director Björn Blomqvist. "The financial situation for the group as a whole is currently stable and healthy. The bond loan listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange was amortized and the ship BIRKA was sold at the beginning of the summer," says Blomqvist.

A significant change in Eckerö Line's passenger behavior has been that Finns increasingly also travel to other destinations in Estonia and not just to Tallinn. Consequently, Eckerö Line's hotel sales this year have also increased by 17% compared to the previous year. Families with children in particular have discovered Eckerö Line's diverse range of programs and Estonia's interesting travel destinations for the whole family. The proportion of international passengers has also increased and, relatively speaking, the growth has been greatest for American, Indian and Chinese passengers.

Oct 26 2023