Sustainable Finnish Aviation Industry
Pradhan, Shariful Islam (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025120933860
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025120933860
Tiivistelmä
This thesis sought to examine the direction in which the aviation industry in Finland is changing to be more sustainable and how the national efforts are contributing to alleviate the environmental consequences of air travel. The paper found out the methods by which Finnish airports, airlines, and government has managed to achieve carbon neutrality, and discussed the obstacles that impeded the process of attaining sustainable aviation. It also examines the way Finland fitted in a global industry which has increasingly been subjected to pressure in order to achieve climate goals.
The theoretical framework was anchored on the literature of sustainable development and the Triple Bottom Line model proposed by Elkington was used to conduct the analysis. This model enables the evaluation of sustainability based on environmental, economic, and social perspectives and contributed to providing a well-balanced consideration of the environmental issue, financial pressures and social significance of aviation. The framework connected national activities in Finland with international requirements outlined by ICAO, IATA and European Union.
The study employed the qualitative research design methodology and drew upon secondary data. The primary sources included reports and publications of Finavia, Finnair, Neste, ICAO, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, OECD, and the European Commission. These reports provided current knowledge in industry practice, renewable fuel development, airport and policy obligations. Thematic analysis was applied to identify recurring themes, merge together similar concepts and create a clear image of the sustainability performance of the aviation sector in Finland.
The conclusions demonstrated that Finland is highly aligned with the global climate goals and is making actual efforts to reduce aviation emissions. Finavia already operates a carbon-neutral airport, Finnair has equipped its planes with fuel-efficient models and SAF, and Neste has established a large-scale facility of Sustainable Aviation Fuel that makes Finland an innovation leader. Nevertheless, significant obstacles still exist, including the high price of SAF, lack of renewable fuel, time lag in the development of electric and hydrogen technology and aircraft, money constraints in small airports, and the increasing demand on passengers that negated the reduction of emissions.
The conclusion of the thesis is that Finland has attained well, however, successful policy reinforcement, extra investment in renewable energy, and broader collaboration throughout the aviation industry would be required over the long term. The activities of Finland demonstrated sustainability in aviation as depending on the concerted efforts by government, industry bodies, and energy providers. It should be noted in the study that Finland could act as an example to the rest of the world but until full carbon neutrality is achieved the rest of the economic, technological and operation issues need to be resolved.
The theoretical framework was anchored on the literature of sustainable development and the Triple Bottom Line model proposed by Elkington was used to conduct the analysis. This model enables the evaluation of sustainability based on environmental, economic, and social perspectives and contributed to providing a well-balanced consideration of the environmental issue, financial pressures and social significance of aviation. The framework connected national activities in Finland with international requirements outlined by ICAO, IATA and European Union.
The study employed the qualitative research design methodology and drew upon secondary data. The primary sources included reports and publications of Finavia, Finnair, Neste, ICAO, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, OECD, and the European Commission. These reports provided current knowledge in industry practice, renewable fuel development, airport and policy obligations. Thematic analysis was applied to identify recurring themes, merge together similar concepts and create a clear image of the sustainability performance of the aviation sector in Finland.
The conclusions demonstrated that Finland is highly aligned with the global climate goals and is making actual efforts to reduce aviation emissions. Finavia already operates a carbon-neutral airport, Finnair has equipped its planes with fuel-efficient models and SAF, and Neste has established a large-scale facility of Sustainable Aviation Fuel that makes Finland an innovation leader. Nevertheless, significant obstacles still exist, including the high price of SAF, lack of renewable fuel, time lag in the development of electric and hydrogen technology and aircraft, money constraints in small airports, and the increasing demand on passengers that negated the reduction of emissions.
The conclusion of the thesis is that Finland has attained well, however, successful policy reinforcement, extra investment in renewable energy, and broader collaboration throughout the aviation industry would be required over the long term. The activities of Finland demonstrated sustainability in aviation as depending on the concerted efforts by government, industry bodies, and energy providers. It should be noted in the study that Finland could act as an example to the rest of the world but until full carbon neutrality is achieved the rest of the economic, technological and operation issues need to be resolved.