Focusing on climate emissions of Finavia airports – kick-off with Lapland airports

The Finnish Airport Operator, Finavia Corporation, is included in an international programme with the objective of reviewing and reducing airports’ carbon emissions. As part of the programme, the carbon emissions caused by Lapland Airports have now been calculated for the first time. The amount of emissions decreased in 2010 in comparison to previous years. 

Finavia maintains six airports in Lapland based in Ivalo, Enontekiö, Kittilä, Rovaniemi, Kuusamo and Kemi. In February 2012, the airports were granted an environmental certificate by the Airports Council International. The certificate is part of an international programme developed to control the carbon emissions of airports. 

“As a whole, the climate impact of air traffic is smaller than has been thought. Globally, air traffic only constitutes two per cent of carbon dioxide emissions caused by man. The share of airports in this volume is small, but as part of cooperation between the entire aviation sector, Finavia is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our own operations to an even greater extent,” says Mikko Viinikainen, SVP of Finavia’s Environmental Management. 

In the four-level programme prepared by the ACI, Lapland Airports reached level 2. At level 2, there is verification that airports emissions are reduced. In 2010, the amount of emission reduction at Lapland Airports amounted to emissions of approximately six tanker truckloads of fuel. 

“Finavia wants to do its part in the promotion of tourism in Lapland by developing well-functioning, environmentally sound airport services. As a method of public transport, flying is also an environmentally sensible option when travelling between Lapland and the capital region of Finland. In traffic in Finland, the fuel consumption of a turboprop aircraft on a domestic trip is 2.5 to 3 litres per hundred kilometres per passenger for a full aircraft. When the big picture of traveling, safety, time, environment and routes are taken into account, it is sustainable to leave your car in the garage during the winter vacation season,” says Mr. Viinikainen. 

The certification programme of ACI must demonstrate annual progress, which means that emission monitoring and reduction will also continue at the airport from now on. The Finavia energy policy also requires continuous energy efficiency improvement and emissions reduction. The ACI programme was introduced in 2009. Since then, airports that have joined the programme have reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by a combined total of more than one million tons. 

Finavia maintains and develops a network of 25 airports in Finland and the air navigation system covering the entire country. Through its services for air traffic, Finavia creates preconditions for smooth and cost-effective flight connections.

Source: Finavia