Finnair to conduct Amsterdam-Helsinki biofuel flights

Finnair A320. Photo: Courtesy, Finnair.

Finnair said it will operate a scheduled flight partially powered by biofuel between Amsterdam and Helsinki next week, and will ultimately operate at least three biofuel flights on the route.

The carrier said it will use a 50/50 blend of fuel with half derived from "recycled vegetable oil" and half derived from traditional aviation fuel. It did not say which aircraft type will be used; it generally flies Airbus A320 family aircraft on the AMS-HEL route. The fuel will be supplied by Amsterdam-based SkyNRG, which was co-founded in 2009 by Air France KLM, North Sea Group and Spring Associates.

"Finnair and SkyNRG have agreed to jointly work on a structural supply chain, as both parties firmly believe that the adoption of 'green routes' by airlines will help accelerate the development of sustainable and affordable jet fuels, which have the potential to reduce aviation emissions by up to 80% in the long term," the airline said in a statement. "At this stage Finnair aims to fly at least three Amsterdam-Helsinki flights using a 50% biofuel blend in both engines." Refueling will be done at AMS.

Finnair noted it "will accept for permanent use only a biofuel alternative that is socially, ecologically and economically sustainable. For example, the cultivation of the biomass used in the production of biofuel must significantly reduce GHG emissions, must not compromise food production or lead to biodiversity degradation or deforestation."

Lufthansa plans to start its scheduled biofuel flights Friday, launching a six-month trial in which an IAE V2500-powered A321 will operate on the Frankfurt-Hamburg route (ATW Daily News, July 12).