Cargo news
Finnair and Yusen Logistics initiate collaboration on sustainable aviation fuel
Finnair and Yusen Logistics have signed an agreement on the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in air cargo, reinforcing their shared commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from air freight.
Under the agreement, Yusen Logistics will contribute to the purchase of SAF to reduce scope 3 GHG emissions associated with cargo transportation on Finnair-operated flights.
The agreement marks another step in advancing air cargo solutions with a lower climate impact and highlights the growing interest among shippers and logistics providers in taking concrete action to reduce supply chain emissions.
“We are pleased to see our customers making a long-term commitment to the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This multi-year agreement with Yusen Logistics is an important milestone in reducing the climate impact of air cargo and a concrete example of how customers and airlines can work together to accelerate the energy transition. By creating long-term demand for SAF, we can help support the growth of production and availability in the years ahead. We hope this commitment will also encourage other companies to explore how SAF can help reduce air cargo emissions,”
- Gabriela Hiitola, Senior Vice President, Finnair Cargo.
For Yusen Logistics, the agreement represents a tangible investment in lowering the environmental impact of air freight while maintaining the connectivity and reliability that global supply chains require.
"Our customers increasingly expect practical solutions that support their efforts to address the environmental impact of their supply chains. Through our collaboration with Finnair, we can offer customers access to SAF-related environmental attributes through a Book-and-Claim mechanism while maintaining the service quality they require. Certificates and related reporting can provide customers with information on the environmental attributes allocated to them and support their sustainability objectives. This agreement marks another important step in our sustainability journey."
- Eisuke Fukagawa, Head of Air Freight Forwarding Unit, Yusen Logistics Global Management
SAF is an alternative to fossil fuels and currently one of the most effective tools available for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from aviation. While SAF and fossil jet fuel release similar amounts of CO2 during flight, SAF’s carbon footprint over its lifecycle is smaller than fossil jet fuel's. SAF is also fully compatible with existing aircraft and airport infrastructure. Scaling SAF is essential for aviation's climate transition: in 2025, less than 1% of global jet fuel production and 1.6% of Finnair's total fuel consumption was SAF.
The agreement signed by Finnair and Yusen Logistics covers an initial one-year period, with option for continuation, and reflects both companies' long-term commitment to advancing sustainable aviation and air cargo operations. The agreement was concluded with the support of Western Associate Inc. (WAI), Finnair's General Sales Agent (GSA) in Japan.