The societal value of aviation in focus as the future of regional air services was discussed
How will labour markets, businesses and public services be affected if accessibility declines? And how can aviation transition towards more sustainable solutions while regions continue to grow, attract investment and bring people closer together?
These were among the questions at the heart of the seminar Flight as a Societal Investment, which brought together stakeholders from Finland and Sweden in Skellefteå. Representatives from municipalities, regions, airports, businesses and development organisations discussed the role of aviation in a Northern Nordic region shaped by major industrial investments, the green transition and a changing security environment.
Accessibility is about more than travel
A recurring theme throughout the seminar was that the importance of aviation extends far beyond travel itself. Accessibility influences the ability to attract skilled labour, develop businesses, conduct research, provide public services and maintain functioning labour markets across vast distances.
Andreas Forsgren of Tyréns presented findings from the FAIR, FAIR 2 and New North projects.
Andreas Forsgren of Tyréns presented findings and experiences from the FAIR, FAIR 2 and New North projects. Drawing on mobility data, commuting patterns and labour market analyses, he illustrated how people and businesses move between regions and highlighted both the needs and opportunities for strengthening accessibility across the Northern Nordics.
Lilly Bäcklund, Chair of Swedish Regional Airports, highlighted the importance of aviation for critical societal functions. Through practical examples, she demonstrated how vulnerable transport chains can become when accessibility deteriorates. The discussion therefore extended beyond travel itself to include the impact on healthcare, public services and other critical functions when connections are unavailable or fail to operate as intended.
Lilly Bäcklund highlighted the importance of aviation for critical societal functions.
The societal benefits of aviation are not reflected in the price of an airline ticket
Fredrik Kämpfe of Transportföretagen Flyg argued that aviation must be viewed as part of an integrated transport system.
“The societal value of aviation is not reflected in the price of an airline ticket.”
According to Kämpfe, many of aviation’s benefits arise outside the transport system itself, while funding remains closely linked to aviation activity. He pointed out that good air connections influence the ability to recruit skilled workers, support business development, enable research and maintain public services in regions characterised by long distances.
He also called for a broader discussion about the role of aviation within the transport system and argued that regional air services in some parts of the Nordic region should be regarded as an essential part of public transport.
Fredrik Kämpfe of Transportföretagen Flyg.
The transition requires new solutions
The seminar also addressed sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), electric aviation and future mobility solutions. At the same time, several speakers emphasised that new technologies must be supported by viable business models, investment and long-term decision-making if they are to succeed in practice.
Kämpfe described SAF as the most important short-term opportunity for reducing aviation emissions. He also argued that the Northern Nordics are well positioned both to produce and use sustainable aviation fuels.
Robert Lindberg, CEO of Skellefteå Airport, stressed the importance of testing new solutions in practice. He highlighted the need for new business models for future regional air services and called for a more integrated approach in which aviation is considered part of the wider transport system.
Robert Lindberg, CEO of Skellefteå Airport.
FAIR 3 takes the next step
The seminar concluded with a look ahead. Mathias Lindström, Director of the Kvarken Council EGTC, presented the recently approved FAIR 3 project, which builds on the results of FAIR and FAIR 2.
“Now it is time to take the next step.”
The new FAIR 3 project will analyse the potential for developing cross-border publicly procured air services, develop models for cost and responsibility sharing, and examine the legal and administrative conditions required for future solutions between Finland and Sweden.
Lindström noted that several years of work through FAIR, FAIR 2, New North and other cross-border initiatives have generated extensive knowledge about demand, mobility, technology and potential service models.
He emphasised that the next step is to turn that knowledge into practical action and that cross-border cooperation provides the region with strong opportunities to develop and test new solutions for the regional air services of the future.
Mathias Lindström, Director of the Kvarken Council EGTC, presented the FAIR 3 project.
Lotta Rönström of North Sweden European Office moderated the seminar.
