Finnair has pushed back its long-term target for achieving carbon neutrality, fixing the timeline at 2050 rather than its previous ambition of 2045. The carrier disclosed the shift as it revealed that short-term plans to decarbonise its operations had secured validation, with formal acceptance of a science-based target to reduce unit emissions over 10 years. Finnair CE Turkka Kuusisto, speaking as the airline unveiled third-quarter financial results on 29 October, said the decision followed a review of its carbon-neutrality strategy. The carrier states that its previous 2045 target was set in 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and the disruption to its long-haul network caused by the Ukrainian conflict. Finnair points out that the revision will nevertheless “align” the carrier with the broader “united objective” of the air transport industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.<br/>
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Finnair has shown off a cabin revamp on its Embraer 190s, which the Nordic carrier uses for regional European services. The airline states that the initial aircraft (OH-LKH) has returned to service, operated by partner carrier Nordic Regional Airlines. While retaining the E190’s 100-passenger configuration the upgrade features new seats in both business class – spanning rows one to nine – and economy, as well as LED lighting. Seven of its 12 aircraft will undergo refurbishment over the winter 2024-25 season with the rest completed by spring 2026. Finnair says the seats are lighter and, in combination with a different carpet material, contribute to a 150kg weight saving on each jet. “Our aim was to create a harmonious, fresh and inviting travel environment for our customers, with dark blue and grey colours and a hint of wooden laminate – colours our customers now associate with Finnair,” says head of in-flight customer experience Eerika Enne. Work on the initial twinjet has been carried out at Exeter in the UK.<br/>
Riyadh Air, backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, is in talks to work with Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways to expand each other’s route network, after its multibillion-dollar order of 60 Airbus jets this week, said a senior executive. The cooperation may “very possibly” include a code-sharing accord for the two carriers to fly passengers on each other’s aircraft to a wider network of destinations, Riyadh Air’s CFO Adam Boukadida said in an interview with the Post on Wednesday. He emphasised that it was “too early” to specify details. The aircraft order and the potential code-share with one of Asia’s biggest carriers are the latest steps by the year-old Riyadh Air to reach “100 different destinations, at the minimum, by 2030”, Boukadida said. A code-sharing accord is a commonly used partnership among global airlines. It can help Riyadh Air tap into Cathay Pacific’s network of over 80 global destinations to expand the Saudi carrier’s routes quickly, while giving Cathay Pacific access to more connections in the Middle East. “Our focus is connecting the world to Riyadh, and Riyadh to the world”, so “we are always open [in] looking for the right partnership”, Boukadida said. “Cathay is a great airline. I have flown with them before.”<br/>
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denied personally calling former Qantas Airways Ltd. boss Alan Joyce to ask for flight upgrades, as a growing scandal over free perks provided by the national carrier threatens to engulf his government. Albanese was accused in a book by former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston of personally contacting Joyce to ask for perks and receiving more than a dozen free upgrades. Since the story broke, the prime minister has said he declared all upgrades as well as his Chairman’s Lounge membership. In a statement on Thursday, Albanese’s office went further and denied he had contacted Joyce for perks. “The Prime Minister did not ever call Alan Joyce seeking an upgrade,” a spokesperson said. “All travel has been appropriately declared and is a matter of public record.” Local media reported that Albanese had also denied texting or emailing Joyce, or Qantas’ government relations representative, to request free flight upgrades. The airline didn’t respond to an email seeking comment on the claim that Albanese solicited upgrades directly from Joyce.<br/>