Last week, the FAIR 2 partnership received a study on sustainable aviation in the Northern Nordics. This study reveals crucial insights into regional travel patterns and the future of sustainable aviation. The FAIR 2 project aims to promote sustainable air traffic and increase knowledge of the demand for sustainable regional aviation from a cross-border perspective in the northern Nordics.
Conducted by the consulting firm Kuudes, the study underwent three detailed phases: mapping current travel patterns using data from Telia and official statistics, conducting qualitative interviews with 20 organizations from various sectors, and carrying out a quantitative survey of nearly a thousand individuals and organisations in Finland and Sweden.
“Sustainable aviation is emerging as a local interest among our target groups,” stated Terhi Hyvönen, Senior Insight Specialist from Kuudes. “Our findings indicate a readiness to transition to new forms of sustainable aviation, reflecting an alignment with global sustainability trends, but also a changed travel behavior since regional flights are not widespread today.”
Main Conclusions:
- Growing demand for sustainable aviation: There is significant demand for more sustainable and convenient aviation options, particularly between Nordic cities.
- Necessity for enhanced cross-border connections: Especially the businesses find the improved connectivity important for fostering cross-border business opportunities, tourism and regional stability across the Nordic region.
- Challenges to overcome: The study identified several barriers, including lack of cultural connections between some of the regions, dependency on cars, high sustainability expectations, and concerns over the convenience and pricing of flying.
As a result, Kuudes found that sustainable aviation is gaining traction among target groups, recognising its potential role in the region’s future development. With the familiarity of electric vehicles, people are ready to embrace new forms of aviation. Based on the study, people question the sustainability and convenience of current aviation services and desire a reform. Sustainable aviation could transform the Northern Nordics by attracting more business, tourism, and residents. For instance, there is demand for flights between Nordic cities.
When developing and marketing aviation, price, convenience and uncompromising sustainability of the entire supply chain must be central. Sustainability is important in both countries, especially in Sweden. People want to fly better and via simpler routes, but not cause emissions by travelling excessively. In addition the target groups must be educated about aviation as a realistic option. In leisure travel, low price points are expected.
Key Challenges for Sustainable Aviation:
- Lack of interaction: The Finnish coast is culturally connected to Sweden, but in other areas, this connection is missing. The demand is not equally strong both ways; many Swedes do not know Finland well.
- Car dependency: In the Northern Nordics, people rely on their cars and are accustomed to driving long distances, offering flexible schedules and luggage transport. Many may resist switching to air travel, even if it saves time.
- Perceived inconvenience of flying: Success hinges on creating a next generation of air travel that is smoother and more convenient door-to-door, especially for shorter trips.
To tackle these challenges, stakeholders must strengthen demand by influencing access, attitudes and motivation. The study identified that due to the current geopolitical situation, there is a good momentum for deeper cross-border relations.
“The FAIR 2 study provides invaluable insights into the current state and future potential of sustainable aviation in our region,” commented Mathias Lindström, Director of Kvarken Council EGTC. “By understanding the needs and expectations of our communities, we can develop aviation solutions that are not only sustainable but also economically viable and socially beneficial. This is a crucial step towards a more connected and environmentally conscious Northern Nordics.”
The FAIR 2 study area is geographically limited to the Kvarken Council EGTC’s member areas in Sweden and Finland and the municipality of Luleå in Sweden. In the project, this region is referred to as the Northern Nordics.
At the event where the results of the sustainable aviation study were presented, Max Jansson, Managing Director of Visit Vaasa, spoke about the possibilities of new aviation technologies for the tourism sector in the region.
Terhi Hyvönen, Senior Insight Specialist from Kuudes, and Saara Järvinen, Senior Insight Strategist from Kuudes, presented the results of the sustainable aviation study.
The Kvarken Council is a Nordic cross-border cooperation platform for three Ostrobothnian counties in Finland and the regions of Västerbotten and Västernorrland in Sweden. Together they form the Kvarken region. we are the most democratic multi-level governance structure in the Nordic countries and the first fully Nordic EGTC area. We promote all types of cross-border cooperation with the ambition to develop our region to become as good as possible for future generations. The Kvarken Council is one of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ official cross-border cooperation bodies.
FAIR 2 – Promoting sustainable aviation
The FAIR initiatives are leading the way in making regional and cross-border aviation more eco-friendly. These projects are major steps for us in the Kvarken region and the Northern Nordics in our efforts to use green ways of flying within our region. We aim to be one of the first to switch to this kind of air travel as soon as certifications are in place.
The initial FAIR project enhanced knowledge about electric aviation and its possible effects for both the Kvarken region in Finland and Sweden, as well as Nordland in Norway. Project findings pointed to significant benefits, such as reduced travel times, decreased emissions, and the prospect of cost savings, which could collectively foster closer ties within the cross-border region. Based on these insights, the project proposed actions for regional stakeholders to become early adopters of electric aviation. However, several of the proposed measures are dependent on better data to be dimensioned. Generating knowledge about the demand is the main scope of the EU Interreg project FAIR 2.
Read more about the previous FAIR project HERE. You can find the final report with recommended actions HERE. Read more about the FAIR 2 project HERE.
FAIR 2 – Project partnership
Lead Partner EU
Kvarken Council EGTC (sole beneficiary, EGTC)
Financiers
Interreg Aurora, Regional Council of Lapland, Kvarken Council EGTC, FAB Kronoby Flyghangar, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, Umeå Municipality, Skellefteå Airport, Skellefteå Kraft, Luleå Business Region, Sundsvall Municipality, Into Seinäjoki, Länsstyrelsen Västerbotten, Örnsköldsvik Municipality, Lycksele Municipality, Region Västerbotten, MidtSkandia.
