Air transport: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Air transport
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics on air transport describe air traffic and transport of passengers, freight and mail at Finnish airports. Statistics Finland collects the data for the statistics from airport operators in Finland. The data are released monthly and annually.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The data of the statistics concern air transport, that is, commercial air traffic in which passengers, freight or mail are transported for a fee or rent. Commercial air traffic comprises scheduled and chartered flights. Air traffic does not include general aviation and training or military flights.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
The statistical units are passenger and transported cargo and post.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
The statistical population is formed by airports operating in Finland.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
The data of the statistics cover all commercial aviation in Finland, that is, commercial air traffic in which passengers, freight or mail are transported for a fee or rent.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
The monthly statistics on air transport are published around three weeks from the end of the statistical reference month. The annual statistics on air transport are published at the end of March following the statistical reference year and they contain the final annual data concerning the previous year.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
The units of air transport are number of passengers, freight and mail tonnes.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The monthly statistics on air transport are published around three weeks from the end of the statistical reference month. The annual statistics on air transport are published at the end of March following the statistical reference year and they contain the final annual data concerning the previous year.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Air traffic passenger transport performance
Number of passengers multiplied by the number of flown kilometres.
Air traffic performance
The total number of flown kilometres during a specific unit of time, usually one year.
Air traffic transport performance
Volume of transported passengers, freight and mail in tonnes multiplied by the number of flown kilometres.
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle moving in the atmosphere, such as an airplane, helicopter and hot-air balloon.
Airplane
An airplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with a weight greater than the air.
Airport
A defined area which is entirely or partly intended for commercial air traffic activities.
Airport terminal
A self-contained facility for handling of air traffic freight and passenger transport.
Charter air traffic
Chartered flight.
Commercial aviation
Commercial aviation is commercial air traffic, in which passengers, freight or mail are transported in exchange for a fee or rent. Commercial air traffic comprises scheduled and chartered flights and air taxi traffic. Commercial aviation does not include general aviation, training or military flights.
Domestic air traffic passenger
A domestic passenger departs from and arrives at an airport in Finland.
International air traffic passenger
A domestic passenger departs from and arrives at an airport in Finland.
Passenger, air traffic
A passenger arriving or departing or a transfer passenger changing planes. Passenger statistics do include infants, but do not include transit passengers (a passenger who does not change planes).
Scheduled flight
Scheduled air traffic.
Tonne-kilometre
Transport of one tonne of goods over a distance of one kilometre.
Transfer passenger, air traffic
A transfer passenger arrives at the airport by air and continues his/her journey to another airport.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
Data on the statistics on air transport are available on the publication date of the release on the home page of the statistics. The data of the statistics are also available in Statistics Finland's StatFin database service. The statistics are produced as required by Regulation (EC) No 1358/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the statistical data required by the Regulation are submitted to Eurostat.
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
The data of the statistics on air transport are based on airport-specific data that Statistics Finland collects monthly from airport operators in Finland as register data.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
The data are collected monthly (monthly statistics) and annually (annual statistics).
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
Experts evaluate the data before their publication and compare the data with the previous year’s data.
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
The data are processed to correspond to the classifications used in the statistics.
User needs (SIMS 12.1)
The volume of passenger and freight traffic in air transport and its development at Finnish airports are followed by Eurostat, the media, researchers and other users.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
The statistics on air transport are regularly made accounts of the passenger and freight volumes of airports operating in Finland. Airport operators may publish corresponding statistics describing their airports. Statistics Finland monitors that these statistics are coherent with data reported to Statistics Finland.
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: European Statistics Code of Practice | Statistics Finland and Recommendations of the Advisory Board of Official Statistics of Finland | Statistics Finland
Data revision - policy (SIMS 17.1)
If the published data need to be changed, this is always indicated to the user of the data in question in the release and database tables.
Data revision - practice (SIMS 17.2)
No regular data revision.
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
The monthly statistics on air transport are published around three weeks from the end of the statistical reference month. The annual statistics on air transport are published at the end of March following the statistical reference year and they contain the final annual data concerning the previous year.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
The data are released according to the target date.
Comparability - geographical (SIMS 15.1)
The data are comparable on the level of the whole country.
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
The statistics on air transport are regularly made accounts of the passenger and freight volumes of airports operating in Finland. Airport operators may publish corresponding statistics describing their airports. Statistics Finland monitors that these statistics are coherent with data reported to Statistics Finland.
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data. The terms of use for statistical data.
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
The monthly statistics on air transport are published around three weeks from the end of the statistical reference month. The annual statistics on air transport are published at the end of March following the statistical reference year and they contain the final annual data concerning the previous year.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published monthly/annually/quarterly on Air transport | Statistics Finland
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.
Micro-data access (SIMS 10.4)
Special compilations of the statistical data can also be made on assignment.
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Finnish Data Protection Act are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)