Runway: the Finnair blog

No-one can be in any doubt that air transport generates emissions. Aviation is responsible for 2–3 per cent of all manmade carbon emissions. Of the environmental impact caused by an airline, 95 per cent consists of engine emissions. The most important environmental action an airline can take is to invest in new fleet.

The average age of the Finnair fleet is six years. At the beginning of next year, moreover, the final old-technology Boeing MD-11 aircraft will leave the fleet. This means that our entire long-haul fleet will then represent the latest and best technology, also in terms of emissions.

When customers decide to travel by air, their choice of airline can be an “eco-smart” decision. Choosing an airline with a new fleet is an eco-smart decision, because each new generation of aircraft produces around 20 per cent less emissions than its predecessor. We are therefore proud of our new, efficient fleet.

Our advertisements emphasise the importance of this decision. This is no greenwash; it represents concrete action on the part of the airline to reduce emissions.

Customers can also compare routes using our calculator, which is based on the actual fuel consumption of our flights instead of simply measuring the distance flown. For us it is sensible to use a calculator that takes into account improvements in aircraft fuel economy, the efficiency of Helsinki-Vantaa as an airport, and aircraft weight-reduction measures we have taken.

Customers can also make important decisions when planning their travel route. A direct flight, for example, is not always the best option, especially if the flying distance is very long. Then it is more sensible to make a stopover.

On flights from Western Europe to Asia, Helsinki is the ideal stopover point. When travelling, for example, from London or Paris to Asian destinations, making a stopover in Helsinki does not increase emissions compared with flying direct. To many destinations, a stopover even reduces emissions. Only on flights to Bangkok and Delhi does a stopover slightly increase emissions.

Furthermore, Helsinki-Vantaa is an uncongested, efficient transit airport. The use of three runways reduces emissions arising from traffic congestion and holding patterns. London Heathrow, for example, only uses two runways.

A passenger’s most important decision, however, is to fly in the right direction. When flying from a city that has no direct flight to the destination, it is worth choosing an airline whose stopover point lies on the route. This is another aspect that we want to emphasise in our communications.

Kati Ihamäki