According to the director of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, the same debate as in Sweden is still ahead in Finland: does the state have to think about the climate when it supports air routes.
Already in the past, the state has partially supported the Savonlinna route, but otherwise subsidizing flights is still a new phenomenon for us, brought about by the corona virus. Even now, the aim is that the routes would become profitable again and that the support would not become permanent.
It is different in the neighboring countries of Sweden and Norway. In Norway, there is generally a strong desire to keep the country inhabited and a bigger budget. However, also in Sweden, the state has supported domestic air traffic for a long time and even before the corona virus.
– They have been quite systematic in supporting air traffic, says the manager Pipsa Eklund Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.
Currently, Sweden supports traffic to twelve fields. There are also flights other than Stockholm, for example the flight connection between Lulea and Pajala in the north. The distance between the towns is a good 200 kilometers. For example, in 2019, there were about 2,000 passengers on the route per year, it turns out From the Swedish Trafikverket report. (you switch to another service)
In Sweden, they want to reduce subsidized flights
In Sweden, there is already a discussion about whether subsidized air traffic could be partially moved forward. The purpose is that more and more routes could be operated in a market-driven manner. In addition, the report is about whether the air routes from Torsby, Hagfors and Kramfors to Stockholm could be replaced by, for example, train connections.
– I assume that for climate reasons, says Eklund.
According to Eklund, Finland has not yet reached a discussion about how the state must take climate goals into account when it supports unprofitable flight routes.
– Our support started during the corona and support decisions were made quite quickly. There has not yet been a climate debate in Finland.
Supporting routes will be presented in the autumn at the Ministry of Transport as part of defining the service level of other work-related connections. Eklund believes that the environmental perspective is becoming more prominent in Finland as well.
For climate reasons, the European Union has limited the support of flights so that states can only support routes that cannot be replaced by a train journey of less than three hours. The train journey between Jyväskylä and Helsinki is just over three hours.
– I believe that we will also have a discussion about what is supported in such situations, flying or some other form of transportation. We will see if there will be more guidance from the EU in the future, Eklund reflects.
Finnish air traffic is exceptionally Helsinki-centric
Compared to neighboring countries, Finnish air traffic is also strongly concentrated at the capital’s airport. Unlike in Norway and Sweden, there are practically no other connections within the country.
Dissertation researcher Riku Viri The University of Tampere says that there are many domestic connections in Norway due to the difficult terrain. Sweden also had many more domestic flight routes than Finland, especially before the corona virus.
– Sweden’s population is certainly bigger, but that hardly explains the difference completely, Viri says.
Director, professor familiar with air traffic for decades Jorma Mäntynen Destialta says that the importance of good accessibility has been understood in Sweden, which is also reflected in Sweden’s export performance better than in Finland.
– In Sweden, it is understood that air transport is an instrument to achieve other things. Our way of thinking is totally different.
According to Mäntynen, it is pointless to imagine that, for example, big investors would come to Finnish cities if they have to first fly to Helsinki-Vantaa and then change to a bus or train instead of a plane.
– Then the machines and equipment will be bought elsewhere, and it will be out of Finland.
According to him, the much-talked-about Swedish air shame is hardly seen in Sweden in domestic air travel, because it is often about business travel.
– Flight shame is probably related to leisure traffic. You can make different solutions for leisure trips, but when you go to do business, no one’s business can stand the fact that a couple of hours’ travel time turns into a couple of days’ travel.
In Finland, almost all international flights depart from Helsinki, with the exception of some holiday flights. In Sweden and Norway, international flights depart from significantly more cities.
– Even small airports in Norway have Air France flights to Paris and KLM flights [Amsterdamin] To Schiphol, Riku Viri compares.
The professor doesn’t think connecting flights can be replaced
Riku Viri says that one direction of development can be combinations of flights and train or bus trips in the Nordic countries as well. European airlines are already selling connecting buses or trains to replace short connecting flights.
Also, for example, the CEO of Finavia Kimmo Mäki said in an interview with in March 2021 that air traffic should consider establishing different travel chains. In practice, this could mean, for example, replacing Kemi-Tornio flights with flights to Oulu and the rest of the trip by bus.
Jorma Mäntynen believes that the different combinations for Finland’s distances can hardly replace domestic flights.
However, according to him, by the time we get to the 2030s, short distances can already be partly covered by electric airplanes.
– It is suitable for short connection intervals and small numbers of passengers. Then even those who don’t want to fly now can go by plane with a clear conscience.
In what way do you think the state should support connections to different parts of the country? You can participate in the discussion until 23:00 on 17 August 2022.