A successful July for Viking Line − the Viking XPRS transported about 180,000 passengers

During July, the total passenger volume on Viking Line was 794,974, an increase of 17.5 per cent or 118,600 passengers compared to the same month of 2007. The number of cars transported grew by 12.6 per cent. This major increase in passengers was primarily due to larger capacity on the Helsinki (Finland) − Tallinn (Estonia) and Mariehamn (Åland Islands, Finland) − Kapellskär (Sweden) routes. The number of passengers on other routes was at the normal high summer level.

Viking Line’s high-speed passenger ferry M/S Viking XPRS, which began service in April 2008, set a record of 179,960 passengers in July on the Helsinki – Tallinn route. The new vessel carried 68,871 (62 per cent) more passengers than the Rosella, which served the same route last year. On average, the Viking XPRS transported 5,805 passengers daily. The number of cars rose by 39 per cent.

Aside from its popular day cruise, the Viking XPRS also offers an evening departure at 9.30 p.m. from Helsinki, which is a good alternative for passengers with cars who are continuing their journey in Tallinn early in the morning. The first departure from Tallinn at 8.00 a.m. offers a welcome alternative to travellers from the Baltic countries. The expansion of the Schengen area and the resulting simplification of border formalities have also made the journey between Estonia and Finland easier.

The M/S Rosella, which began serving the Mariehamn – Kapellskär route in May, carried 127,863 passengers in July or 51.7 per cent more than the Ålandsfärjan transported on this route during the same month of 2007. The number of cars grew by 29.2 per cent.

“We are pleased with the trend of passenger numbers in July and very happy about how well passengers have received the Viking XPRS and the Rosella on their new routes,” says Nils-Erik Eklund, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Viking Line.

Viking Line Abp, August 5, 2008

For further information, please contact:

www.vikingline.fi

Nils-Erik Eklund, Managing Director and Chief Executive, tel: +358 18 270 00
Tuomas Nylund, Director of Corporate Communications, tel: +358 9 123 52 72 or mobile +358 405 514 447