Finnair is launching a new service for corporate customers allowing them to support the use of alternative aviation fuels.

The carrier said the new scheme has been designed for members of its Finnair for Business programme. They will be able to monitor emissions from business trips and co-fund the use of alternative fuels, which are known in the aviation industry as ¡°sustainable¡± aviation fuel (SAF).

Finnair explained that emissions reductions through using alternative fuels will be verified by a third party; the client will receive an audited SAF certificate for their investment, which can be used as part of their sustainability reporting.

The scheme will use the ¡°book-and-claim¡± system, which allows corporates to claim the reduction in emissions without the alternative fuel having to be physically used on flights taken by the organisation¡¯s travellers.

Tuomo Karppinen, Finnair's head of environment, said: ¡°We believe that the most effective solutions can be found at the system level and require co-operation not only between decision-makers and energy producers, but also between airlines and customers.

¡°With Finnair for Business SAF service, we want to accelerate the adoption of alternative aviation fuel made from renewable raw materials.¡±

Using alternative fuels can reduce the emissions from aviation by up to 80 per cent over the lifecycle of the fuels compared with traditional kerosene. The fuels are produced from feedstocks such as used cooking oil, animal fat and agricultural residues.

Book-and-claim is becoming a more common way for corporates to contribute to the cost of alternative fuels and reduce their emissions from flights.

Specialist fuel producer Neste launched a book-and-claim platform last year, while leading TMC American Express Global Business Travel created its own Avelia book-and-claim system in 2022?in partnership with Shell Aviation and Accenture.

Alternative fuels only accounted for 0.5 per cent of Finnair¡¯s total fuel procurement in 2024 but this percentage is set to ¡°roughly treble¡± this year, according to the airline. The EU is now requiring airlines to use at least 2 per cent SAF in their fuel mix from this year.

The airline last month announced that it would take part in a new production pilot programme aimed at producing a ¡°synthetic¡± type of alternative aviation fuel.

Finnair added that around 31,000 individual customers have contributed a ¡°small amount¡± to promoting the use of alternative fuels since the option was made available a year ago.

For the latest on sustainability within business travel, read BTN Europe¡¯s Sustainability Report 2025.