At the same time, the company's fleet carried 117.8k ro-ro cargo units, down 8.9% on the 2021 result.
"Like 2021, 2022 was an exceptional year for the entire world, and for Viking Line as well. We will remember 2022 as the year when we welcomed the climate-smart Viking Glory to our fleet and at the same time said farewell to our trusted vessel Amorella and entered an agreement to sell Rosella. Viking Glory, which was launched in service in March 2022 on the Turku-Åland-Stockholm route, has set a new standard in passenger service both internationally and in our own service area. The vessel is popular and has performed well, thus contributing substantially to the company's income," Jan Hanses, CEO of Viking Line, commented.
He furthered, "In 2022, our operations turned in a good performance. Demand in the passenger market was good, and passenger volumes exceeded our expectations. Nearly five million passengers travelled with Viking Line, which corresponds to an increase of 114% compared to 2021. The biggest increase was on the Turku-Åland-Stockholm route, which was served by Viking Grace and Viking Glory."
Hanses also said, "Through increased sales, we managed to almost completely offset the income effect of high bunker (vessel fuel) costs on account of the war in Ukraine. Our results for 2022 should be described as good. The new financial year 2023 will be both demanding and engaging. We are closely following economic developments and adapting operations to meet the challenges we face, particularly concerning the new environmental norms. Meanwhile, we are optimistic about the future."