Finnair is now offering its customers the possibility to calculate their flights' fuel consumption and resulting carbon dioxide emissions. The airline does not currently however, promote emissions offset services to its customers.

"In our environmental work we have focused on the fact that Finnair carries the responsibility for its emissions itself.

"We do this by systematically renewing our fleet and offering short connections between Europe and Asia via Helsinki.

"We recently did a study among Finnish consumers asking them who is responsible for the emissions from a flight, the airline or the passenger. 54% replied that the airline is responsible.

"This gives resounding support to our view," said Finnair VP Sustainable Development Kati Iham'ki.

Finnair is renewing its long-haul fleet with new Airbus A340 and A330 aircraft by the end of March 2010.

The A330s release 20% less emissions than the current long-haul aircraft. For the A340s the figure is 10% less.

The greatest leap will be taken in 2014 when the first new technology Airbus A350XWB joins the fleet. Its emissions are up to a third smaller than those of current wide-bodied aircraft.

Finnair's new emissions calculator can be used to calculate the distance, fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions resulting from one person's trip on Finnair's schedules and leisure routes.

The aircraft type used as the basis for the calculations on Finnair's European and domestic routes is the Airbus A320, on long-haul flights it is the Airbus A340 and on Leisure Flights the Boeing 757.

On flights between Europe and Asia, the calculator also indicates how much fuel is consumed and emissions caused if the flight were operated via Copenhagen, Amsterdam or Frankfurt.

Fuel consumption has been calculated using Finnair average passenger and cargo loads.

On European flights the average passenger load factor is 75%, on long-haul flights it is 85% and on Leisure Flights 95%.

The average cargo loads on European routes are 500 kg and 11,000 kg on long-haul flights.

Fuel and carbon dioxide emissions are allocated to passengers and cargo in relation to their payloads. -The Nation, ANN