6 most common questions about sustainable aviation fuel | Finnair Estonia
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6 most common questions about sustainable aviation fuel

We are committed to increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), one of the most essential tools for solving the emissions challenges of flying in the coming years. Sustainable aviation fuel can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 80% compared to fossil fuels. Increasing the use of SAF will increase the airline's costs, as SAF is clearly more expensive than fossil fuel. We are preparing for this by allocating a small portion of each flight ticket sold, about 20 cents per ticket, to the cost of sustainable aviation fuel. Here are 6 most common questions about sustainable aviation fuel.

What is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)?

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a renewable substitute for fossil fuels. Sustainable aviation fuel can be produced using various conversion technologies and raw materials. These can range from waste oils and agricultural waste to carbon captured from the air.

Sustainable aviation fuel can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft without modifications to engines or infrastructure.

What are the advantages of using sustainable aviation fuel?

It has been widely acknowledged that sustainable aviation fuel will be the most impactful measure to eliminate fossil jet fuel.

Depending on the conversion technology and raw materials used, sustainable aviation fuel can reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by around 80% compared to fossil fuels. Sustainable aviation fuel also produces less non-CO2 emissions, which increases greenhouse gas reduction efficiency. This significantly reduces the carbon footprint of flying.

What does the “SAF purchase included” mean next to my flight details? Am I paying some extra?

Per each sold Finnair flight ticket operated by Finnair or Norra, we use a small amount for purchasing sustainable aviation fuel. Currently, the amount allocated for sustainable aviation fuel is around €0.20 per flight ticket, and it’s included in your flight price.

Sustainable aviation fuel purchases will take place throughout the year. However, sustainable aviation fuel will not be used on specific flights but is purchased and used by the book and claim principle.

How do I know if my flight has sustainable aviation fuel?

Sustainable aviation fuel is purchased and used based on the book and claim principle, in which the fuel is not physically delivered and loaded onto a particular aircraft or flight. This approach enables airlines to assert the environmental advantages associated with their SAF purchase. A similar mechanism is used in the green electricity market.

Currently, the amount allocated for sustainable aviation fuel is around €0.20 per Finnair flight ticket and it’s included in your flight price. This means approximately 1,200 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel annually, which equals 630 flights between Helsinki and Tallinn.

Why is there sustainable aviation fuel included in each Finnair ticket?

Our goal is to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel, and all the allocated money goes directly to sustainable aviation fuel purchases. Increasing sustainable aviation fuel usage directly reduces emissions from flights and supports the development of the sustainable aviation fuel market by boosting demand and supply.

The European Union has agreed to ramp up SAF usage over the next few decades and is about to implement an EU-wide mandate in 2025. There are also a few national SAF mandates in force in some of the EU countries. Part of our sustainable aviation fuel purchases goes towards fulfilling these mandates.

The increased use of sustainable aviation fuel will bring additional costs for us and other airlines, as fuel is one of the largest cost items for an airline. Sustainable aviation fuel is 2–5 times more expensive than regular jet fuel. The increased fuel costs arising from sustainable aviation fuel will likely be reflected in ticket prices in the coming years. With the EU regulation, the requirements for using sustainable aviation fuel will apply to all EU airlines, and therefore the costs will increase for all EU airlines.

Using sustainable aviation fuel is an important part of our CO2 emission reduction actions. By increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel, we can contribute to developing sustainable aviation fuel infrastructure and help create a more sustainable aviation industry in the long run.

You can also join the efforts and address your carbon emissions by purchasing more sustainable aviation fuel or supporting certified climate projects via our partner Chooose. Find out more about our carbon offset service.


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