Helsinki Airport Achieves Net-Zero Emissions, Leading Finland’s Green Aviation Push

Helsinki Airport, Finland’s largest and busiest aviation hub, has officially achieved net-zero emissions for its own operations, becoming one of only 20 airports worldwide to reach this milestone under the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Level 5 program. 

With this achievement, Helsinki joins four other Finnish airports, Ivalo, Kittilä, Kuusamo, and Rovaniemi, which reached the same status in 2023. All are operated by Finavia, the Finnish airport operator now setting an ambitious sustainability standard across Europe. 

To attain ACA Level 5, an airport must reduce at least 90% of its CO₂ emissions in scopes 1 and 2, which include emissions from airport-owned infrastructure and equipment. In addition, it must commit to eliminating scope 3 emissions, those related to third parties like airlines and passengers, by 2050. 

Kirsi Pitkäranta, Vice President of Sustainability at Finavia, noted that emissions at Helsinki Airport mainly stem from energy use in runway lighting, HVAC systems, vehicles, and maintenance equipment. “By switching entirely to renewable and carbon-free energy sources, we’ve reduced emissions as far as current technology and economics allow,” she said. 

Finavia’s climate journey started over 15 years ago. Key steps in its long-term plan included: 

• Adopting zero-emission electricity 

• Installing solar power systems 

• Transitioning, as of 2024, to 100% renewable or carbon-free energy sources for electricity, heating, and fuels 

  
  

A breakthrough came with the adoption of Neste’s renewable diesel, which powers airport maintenance fleets and emergency generators, especially vital for heavy-duty machinery that cannot yet be electrified. 

Henri Hansson, Finavia’s Senior Vice President of Airport Infrastructure and Sustainability, reaffirmed the company’s ambitious goal: 

“We want to be part of the solution in reducing aviation’s environmental footprint. By the end of 2025, our aim is to make all 20 Finavia-managed airports net-zero.” 

This bold objective places Finavia at the forefront of airport climate leadership. 

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, praised Finavia as “a true pioneer of a more sustainable aviation ecosystem,” applauding its use of renewables and collaboration with airlines and navigation services. 

But Finavia isn’t stopping at net-zero. The long-term vision, according to the company, is to make its operations carbon negative, actively removing more emissions than it produces. 

Finavia’s achievement at Helsinki Airport marks a significant leap toward a greener aviation future, proving that environmental responsibility and operational excellence can go hand in hand in the skies and on the ground.