Finnair Cargo Puts SAF at the Core of its Net-Zero Strategy

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At the Caspian Air Cargo Summit 2025, Finnair Cargo made a compelling case for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as the cornerstone of aviation’s transition to net-zero emissions. Speaking at the event, Anna-Maria Kirchner, Head of Global Sales at Finnair Cargo, underlined that while multiple technologies will shape aviation’s future, no single lever is as critical—or as urgent—as scaling SAF.

SAF at the heart of net-zero

Kirchner reiterated that aviation’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 is inextricably linked to SAF. “If we continue with our net-zero goals for 2050, IATA has calculated that we will need 65 percent of SAF to be fuelled on the aircraft,” she noted.Yet the current pace of adoption is far from adequate. In 2024, EU airlines purchased only 1.3 million litres of SAF—equivalent to just 0.3% of global consumption. Even with new European regulations mandating a 2% SAF blend, scaling production and accelerating uptake will be the industry’s biggest challenge.For Finnair, as much as 75% of its net-zero roadmap will depend on SAF and electrofuels, with the balance eventually coming from breakthroughs in electric and hydrogen-powered aviation once they become viable.

Breaking ground with Liquid Sun

In August 2025, Finnair marked a milestone by venturing into next-generation fuels through its participation in the Liquid Sun project. Developed with partners ABB, Fortum, and Finavia, the initiative focuses on electrofuels (eSAF) made using solar energy to split water into hydrogen, which is then converted into renewable fuel.“Part of the Finnair strategy is preparing for an energy transformation,” Kirchner explained. “This has just started now in August. It will be little what we get out of it, but we always say every step counts in the journey of sustainability.”Though production remains small, the project signals Finnair’s determination to stay at the forefront of alternative fuel development, ensuring it is ready as volumes increase and costs begin to fall.

Operational innovation: from pallets to uniforms

Beyond fuel, Finnair Cargo is embedding sustainability into its day-to-day operations. Trials are underway with lightweight cardboard pallets produced by Finnish company Atte. Between 50 and 100 kilograms lighter than traditional wooden pallets, they lower emissions per flight while offering reusability and cost benefits. Early use on long-haul flights to Seoul has shown promising results.In keeping with Finland’s circular economy principles, Finnair has also launched a uniform recycling programme, turning worn-out garments into new textiles. Meanwhile, waste streams from cargo operations are being repurposed: unsellable fish from its Helsinki cool hub are donated to the city’s zoo for animal feed rather than being discarded.

Harnessing solar power at the Helsinki hub

Kirchner also spotlighted the role of renewable energy in ground operations. Since 2018, Finnair Cargo’s cutting-edge terminal at Helsinki Airport has been partly powered by 2,990 rooftop solar panels. Together, they generate 37% of the hub’s annual electricity demand, with surplus power channelled into catering operations and airport offices during Finland’s long summer days.“These initiatives may look modest compared with aviation’s overall emissions challenge,” Kirchner admitted. “But Rome wasn’t built in a day – and neither will aviation sustainability. Incremental steps add up.”

Collaboration and credibility

Kirchner emphasised that collaboration across the aviation value chain is essential, especially in standardising emissions reporting and SAF crediting processes. Finnair works closely with Neste, Finland’s homegrown SAF pioneer, to create educational programmes for forwarders and shippers, ensuring all stakeholders understand how to measure, book, and claim emissions reductions.“We hear a lot about reporting. How are the emissions being calculated? What is a booking claim process? How can shippers, how can forwarders, how can we do this together? The most important journey for us is our future, but also how we collaborate with partners in the industry,” she explained.For Kirchner, the central message is about credibility. “The industry must walk the talk. By investing in SAF, piloting electrofuels, and embedding circular economy practices, we’re showing what leadership looks like in cargo sustainability.”

The path forward

Finnair Cargo’s sustainability agenda reflects both pragmatism and ambition. While acknowledging the scale of aviation’s climate challenge, the carrier is betting on SAF and eSAF as the most effective levers available today—backed by operational innovation and transparent collaboration.“Most important is to think about what else we can do to make sure that the planet we’re living in will also be something with a 2050 net-zero target achieved,” Kirchner concluded.