The final results from FAIR 2 confirm that there is a positive attitude towards sustainable aviation, but that most routes will likely require public procurement or another support structure to be commercially viable, at least initially. The willingness to pay is relatively high, especially among businesses, and the most requested routes are:
Umeå – Vaasa
Skellefteå – Kokkola – Jakobstad
Luleå – Oulu
Sundsvall – Vaasa
“We have gained a clear picture of where demand is highest and what factors influence willingness to pay by combining data, interviews, and surveys. We now have concrete data to initiate discussions on procurement and testing of new routes,” says Isak Brändström, Project Leader at Tyréns for the Kvarken Council EGTC.
Stakeholders from the Northern Nordics, including representatives from both the Kvarken region and Luleå, gathered in Kokkola, Finland, for the final meeting of FAIR 2 on March 12–13, 2025.
In-Depth Analysis During the Project Extension
FAIR 2 was extended until March 2025 to complement previous studies and deepen the analysis. The following activities were conducted during this extension:
- A business survey – 260 companies in Sweden and Finland mapped their travel habits and willingness to pay for sustainable aviation.
- A summarized demand study – a more accessible version of the previous analysis, targeted at decision-makers.
- Sales material – a presentation aimed at operators and investors, focusing on business potential.
These provide concrete material for continued discussions with airlines, public entities, and investors regarding the next steps for the region’s sustainable flight connections.
Final Meeting’s Program and Hosts
The final meeting in Kokkola was organized by the Kvarken Council, the project’s coordinator, in collaboration with the City of Kokkola and other regional stakeholders. The program included a review of industrial investments and the region’s green transition, including a visit to Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP). Hycamite presented its technology for reducing carbon emissions, and the Swedish Transport Administration provided insights on how public procurement can play a role in the development of sustainable flight connections.
“Public procurement plays a crucial role in securing flight connections in sparsely populated areas. With the proposals in the Swedish government inquiry, municipalities and regions could have greater influence over both existing and new routes,” said Jean-Marie Skoglund from the Swedish Transport Administration during his presentation.
Insights from the New North project, which analyzes the latest technological advancements in sustainable aviation, were also presented during the meeting.
“The development of electric aviation is progressing faster than many expect, but it won’t happen on its own. This region has a unique opportunity to be an early adopter, especially where distances are long and alternative transport options are limited. However, success requires strategic investments and collaboration between public and private stakeholders,” stated Mikael Bergström, a strategist at the County Administrative Board of Västerbotten and representative of the New North project group.
Next Steps – From Studies to Action
The meeting marked the conclusion of FAIR 2 but also the beginning of the next stage, where results will be translated into practical initiatives. Discussions and idea-gathering for new projects are ongoing, and the next stage will involve dialogues with airline operators, investors, and public stakeholders to explore how regional aviation can be developed with the support of public procurement and innovative business models.
“The results are valuable because they show that there are both positive attitudes and a willingness to pay, but that demand may not be high enough for most routes to be commercially viable from the start. This indicates a need for public support,” said Mathias Lindström, Director of the Kvarken Council EGTC.
Cross-border collaboration has been a key factor in the project, Lindström continues.
“The routes with the greatest potential to leverage new aviation technology are precisely those between Sweden and Finland, where natural distances and geographical conditions make air travel a complementary option in the cross-border transport system.”
Familiarize yourself with the reports produced in FAIR 2:
FAIR 2 demand study
FAIR 2 demand study – short version
FAIR 2 sales material
FAIR 2 and New North video campaign report
About FAIR 2
FAIR 2 (Finding innovations to Accelerate the Implementation of electric Regional aviation 2) is a collaborative project between stakeholders in the Kvarken region and Luleå. Its purpose is to analyze the demand for sustainable regional aviation in this shared region, referred to in the project as the Northern Nordics, and to provide a foundation for future initiatives. The project has been co-financed by Interreg Aurora.
More information: https://www.kvarken.org/en/project/fair2/
The project’s reports and analyses are available on the same page.
