The Impact of the Ukraine War on Aviation Security in Finland

Abstract

Due to Finland’s remote northern geopolitical location and its relative isolation from the rest of the European mainland by the Baltic Sea, the country is highly dependent on aviation activities for both passenger and cargo traffic. In fact, since the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict in February 2022, this dependency has made Finland particularly vulnerable to the consequences affecting aviation industry, air logistics, the economy, infrastructure, climate, and essentially, security. Notable trends in today’s air travel that compromise safety include the increase in GPS interferences, drone activity and other cybersecurity threats imposed by evolving innovations. These issues, combined with increased industrial fatigue and stress resulting from prolonged flight times due to the circumventing of vast, closed airspaces pose significant challenges. In addition, air cargo and mail services face growing risks today due to rapidly advancing technologies and increased volumes globally. Moreover, airlines and air logistics providers must contend with the intensifying impact and pressure on climate caused by rerouting operations and rising operational costs - such as those for jet fuels - especially as suitable weather conditions are necessary for safe operations yet to retain aviation’s status as one of the safest modes of travel. As of all this, it is significant to ask: “how has the war in Ukraine influenced air transportation in Finland, in terms of air passenger and cargo security, lead times, climate impact and overall costs, and how can the industry cope with the changes to follow?