Ferry operator Wasaline closed 2025 with stable growth despite economic headwinds. Passenger numbers increased, emissions dropped significantly, and interest from new international markets continued to rise. For the travel trade, this is less about company performance and more about connectivity, demand signals and sustainable transport options.
In 2025, nearly 260,000 passengers travelled with Wasaline, marking a 2.6 percent increase year-on-year. More interesting than the volume itself is the shift in passenger profiles. Alongside Finnish and Swedish travelers, Wasaline reports growing interest from Central European tour groups, particularly from Germany. Winter crossings through icy conditions are increasingly seen as an experience in their own right, not merely a means of transport.
This creates new opportunities for tour operators:
experiential winter journeys
ferry travel as part of slow or intermodal itineraries
alternative access routes beyond air travel
Wasaline reduced its emissions by over 85 percent in 2025, mainly through a switch to biogas operations. In addition, the ferry Aurora Botnia has been upgraded with new batteries, reaching a capacity of 12.6 MWh – currently the largest battery system on a ROPAX vessel.
Wasaline’s development highlights how transport is becoming part of the travel experience, not just a logistical necessity. For operators planning Nordic products beyond 2026, maritime routes and low-emission mobility options are gaining strategic relevance.
More on Wasaline.
Header: © Christoffer Bjorklund Wasaline