How our customers helped reduce flight emissions in 2025 – interview with Tarja Koski

Finnair also offers its corporate customers a similar opportunity through Finnair for Business SAF service. By joining the service, companies can procure sustainable aviation fuel relative to the fuel consumption of their own air travel. The company will then receive a verified certificate for its contribution, which it can use for example, in sustainability reporting.

We interviewed Tarja Koski from Finnair's Sustainability team. She works with the development of the Finnair for Business SAF service among other things, so we decided to ask how the opportunity to participate in the procurement of sustainable aviation fuel has been received.

The climate impact of flying cannot be denied – emissions must be reduced now

Finnair has a science-based climate target for 2033 and a net zero emissions target for 2050. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is currently the most effective way to reduce emissions from flying, but its availability is limited and its price is significantly higher than that of fossil fuel.

"When passengers can support the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel, Finnair will be able to use more of it than required by law and its own commitments. For consumers, this is a way to reduce emissions from flying with a small contribution, and for corporate customers, the service offers an opportunity to promote their climate commitments and to receive a verified certificate for their action. The impact is still small, but you have to start somewhere," says Tarja.

The aim is to reduce the use of fossil fuels

From Finnair's point of view, the goals of the service are clear: to reduce the use of fossil fuels here and now and to support the growth of SAF production by using it as much as possible.

"The SAF that consumers buy is completely additional, which means that it directly increases the total amount of SAF we use, although the share is still small – about 1.6% of the fuel we used in 2025 was SAF."

When burned, sustainable aviation fuel produces about the same amount of carbon dioxide as fossil fuel. The difference arises from the fact that SAF is made from renewable raw materials. In this way, the carbon released from the fuel is part of the natural cycle and does not increase the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere in the same way as fossil fuels. Over its life cycle, SAF can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil fuels, depending on the production method.

Customer-centric approach appreciated

The opportunity to support the use of sustainable aviation fuel has been available to consumers for about a year, and for business customers a little less time in its current format. Tarja says that interest is constantly growing, especially among corporate customers. Business travel and air freight are difficult to reduce in terms of emissions, and sustainable aviation fuel offers a concrete solution to them. Currently, Finnair has about ten corporate partners.

"About 114,000 leisure travellers have participated so far. This is a small percentage of all customers, but in line with expectations. The Finnair for Business SAF service has been praised especially for its clarity and customer orientation. The service is useful for both small and large companies, and the budget can be scaled as needed."

The future: raising awareness at the heart

The current development work focuses on raising awareness. Many passengers do not yet know that the use of SAF can be easily supported when buying a flight ticket.

Tarja sees SAF's role as significant in the long term. "However, it is important to reduce emissions now, not in a decade's time, and SAF is the solution of the moment."

Greetings to readers

Tarja would like to thank all customers who have already participated in supporting the procurement of sustainable aviation fuel. At the same time, she warmly welcomes all new participants.

"Every contribution takes air transport a step forward, and even though the impact is still small, we must move forward and not wait for a perfect solution."

How to contribute to SAF use

Consumers

• You can support the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel on Finnair's website or in the app when purchasing a flight ticket.
• Participation is voluntary and the amount of support is 3–15 euros each way.
• Your contribution does not directly increase the amount of SAF used on your specific flight or reduce CO₂ emissions from that journey. Instead, your support helps reduce the overall environmental impact of aviation.
• Even a small contribution helps to reduce the use of fossil fuels. So far, we have purchased a total of about 280 tonnes of SAF with our customers' inputs. This amount corresponds to the amount of fossil fuel used for approximately 140 flights between Helsinki and Oulu.
• Find out more at Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

Corporate customers

• The Finnair for Business SAF service offers companies the opportunity to support the use of SAF on a scale it sees suitable for the corporation.
• The service is suitable for both small and large companies.
• Companies are granted a verified certificate of the use of SAF and the emission reduction achieved, which can be used in sustainability reporting.
• A similar service is also available to Finnair's cargo customers.
• In 2025, Finnair acquired an additional amount of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that corresponded to the fuel consumption of its personnel's business flights.
• Find out more at The Finnair for Business SAF service.

In 2025, Finnair applied for SAF-based ETS allowances to offset part of the additional costs caused by the use of sustainable aviation fuel instead of conventional aviation fuel in 2024. The 2024 eligible SAF use was co-funded by the EU Emissions Trading System and received EUR 0.47 million in support.