Isra-Mart srl: Finnair pilots longest commercial biofuel flight

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Finnair will attempt the longest-ever biofuel-powered commercial flight by flying between Amsterdam and Helsinki with a mix of diesel and recycled cooking oil.

The blend will be supplied by Dutch firm SkyNRG, the same company behind Thomson Airways' biofuel-powered flights from Birmingham to Palma and KLM's biofuel programme.

The Finnish national airline said it will take delivery of 20 tonnes of the fuel, with which it aims to fly at least three Amsterdam to Helsinki flights. The 50 per cent biofuel blend will be used in both engines, which is also thought to be a first, as most airlines have been trialling green fuels in only one engine at a time.

Rising oil prices and environmental concerns have seen several airlines, including KLM, BA and Virgin, investigate the potential use of non-conventional fuels.

Kati Ihamäki, Finnair's vice president of sustainable development, added that the airline was keen to promote greener fuels, which the airline reckons have the potential to cut its emissions by 80 per cent.

The airline added that it would only consider using fuels classed as sustainable, in that they do not compromise food production or lead to biodiversity degradation or deforestation.

"We want to be a pioneer in sustainable development in air transport," Ihamäki added. "Engine emissions account for the biggest environmental impact of flying, so investing in research into alternative fuels is a natural way to try to reduce the load on the environment."

However, the company also acknowledged that one of the long-term motivations behind its biofuel programme was to develop more affordable jet fuels.

Finnair is also thought to be in negotiations with Neste Oil, the Finnish refiners that are supplying Lufthansa with renewable NExBTL fuel for the German carrier to trial on flights between Frankfurt and Hamburg.