Sustainability
The most complex challenge with flying is the environmental impact. Aviation is imperative to manage global trade, increase the understanding between nations and individuals, and enable different aid and support initiatives.
We need to address that challenge and decouple our traffic growth from the emissions growth. In the long term, we need to find a way to make our operations carbon neutral. Our goal is to be carbon neutral by the end of 2045. Our first milestone is already by the end of 2025; we will cut our net emissions by 50 % from the 2019 level. We are also working towards more sustainable catering. You can read more about our actions from the respective sub-pages.
Our work contributes to all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals by United Nations. At the moment, we have chosen to focus on six of them most relevant for our business: gender equality (5), industry innovation and infrastructure (9), responsible consumption and production (12), climate action (13), peace, justice, and strong institutions (16), and partnerships for the goals (17).
Even though the challenges are massive and it takes time to find the solutions, we are well-positioned to lead the way and also inspire others. We invite all our customers and partners to make more sustainable choices with us. Join us!
What can I do as a customer?
Small things matter on our way to decrease the environmental impact of flying. You can join us in the efforts to make travelling more sustainable. Would some of the following tips be useful for you?
Before booking your flight
- Choose direct and the shortest routes whenever possible and combine different forms of transit. Could you for example fly the longest bit of your journey and continue by train to your final destination?
- Fly with airlines that use modern and fuel-efficient aircraft fleet. Did you know that our new Airbus A350 aircraft generate around 25% less emissions that previous generation aircraft?
When preparing for your journey
- Pre-order a meal for your next flight within Europe. This helps us to reserve the optimal amount of meals onboard, which ultimately leads to less food waste and reduces the weight of the aircraft, which again equals decreased fuel consumption. We are also introducing more vegetarian meal options.
- Let us know about your special diet in advance on flights with complimentary meals. This is to make sure that we have just the right meal for you and no meals go to waste and there is no unnecessary extra weight on the aircraft.
- Will you travel in Business Class on our intercontinental flights? You can preselect your meal according to your taste, which helps us load just the right meals onboard leading to less food waste and reduced weight of the aircraft. We are also introducing more vegetarian meal options in the near future.
- Pack light. Did you know that if you reduce the weight of your baggage by 5 kg, it reduces your carbon footprint by about 5%? See our cabin crew’s tips for packing light.
While travelling
- Bring your own water bottle with you to avoid purchasing disposable bottles. Helsinki Airport has several cold-water dispensers where you can fill up your bottle for free.
- Favour public transport to connect to the airport. At Helsinki Airport, train take you to the city centre quickly and conveniently.
- Be on time so the flight can depart on time. Punctuality is essential to ensure safe and smooth air traffic, but catching up one minute in the air requires burning 100kg of extra fuel.
- Bring your own headphones with a standard audio connector when flying on our A350 aircraft. This little act of using your own headphones instead of disposable ones can help reduce plastic waste.
- Consider using the same water, juice or coffee cup for a refill. This helps us reduce waste onboard.
Our customers can also donate their Finnair Plus points to help the cause of their favourite charity organization.