Emirates operates first flight powered by 100% SAF

UAE - Emirates has operated its first milestone demonstration flight on a Boeing 777-300ER, powering one of its engines with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The flight took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB), and was commanded by Captain Fali Vajifdar and Captain Khalid Nasser Akram, flying for more than one hour over the Dubai coastline. Emirates’ demonstration flight, the first in the Mena region to be powered by 100% SAF, supports broader efforts to reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions as the industry looks to scale up its use of SAF. The flights will also help to refine the playbook for future SAF demonstrations, and support future certification where 100% drop-in SAF fuel is approved for aircraft. Currently, SAF is approved for use in all aircraft, but only in blends of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel. Emirates worked alongside partners GE Aerospace, Boeing, Honeywell, Neste and Virent to procure and develop a blend of SAF that closely replicates the properties of conventional jet fuel. At each blend ratio, a host of chemical and physical fuel property measurements were carried out. After multiple lab tests and rigorous trials, they arrived at a blending ratio that mirrored the qualities of jet fuel. Eighteen tonnes of SAF were blended, comprised of HEFA-SPK provided by Neste (hydro processed esters and fatty acids and synthetic paraffinic kerosene) and HDO-SAK from Virent (hydro deoxygenated synthetic aromatic kerosene). The 100% SAF supplied one GE90 engine, with conventional jet fuel supplying the other engine. The test flight further demonstrates the compatibility of the specially blended SAF as a safe and reliable fuel source. The promising outcome of this initiative also adds to the body of industry data and research around SAF blends in higher proportions, paving the way for standardization and future approval of 100% drop-in SAF as a replacement for jet fuel, well above the current 50% blend limit. Adel Al Redha, Chief Operating Officer, Emirates Airline said: "This flight is a milestone moment for Emirates and a positive step for our industry as we work collectively to address one of our biggest challenges - reducing our carbon footprint. It has been a long journey to finally see this demonstration 100% SAF flight take off. “Emirates is the first passenger airline in the world to operate a Boeing 777 powering a GE engine with 100% SAF. Such initiatives are critical contributors to industry knowledge on SAF, and provide data to demonstrate the use of higher blends of SAF for future regulatory approvals. We hope that landmark demonstrations flights like this one, will help open the door to scale up the SAF supply chain and make it more available and accessible across geographies, and most importantly, affordable for broader industry adoption in the future." "GE Aerospace congratulates Emirates on this major achievement. SAF is critical to helping the aviation industry reach its goal to be net zero by 2050 and collaborations like this to test 100% SAF globally will help bring us closer to this target," said Aziz Koleilat, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Turkey at GE Aerospace. "All GE Aerospace engines can operate on approved SAF blends today and we are helping support the approval and adoption of 100% SAF." The airline already runs a comprehensive fuel efficiency programme that actively investigates and implements ways to reduce unnecessary fuel burn and emissions, wherever it is operationally feasible. Some of the programme’s most significant initiatives include the operation of "flex tracks", or flexible routings - partnering with air navigation service providers to create the most efficient flight plan for each flight. These efforts have been ongoing since 2003, and Emirates has been working with IATA to extend this routing system across the world as a standard operating procedure where possible. Emirates’ first flight powered by SAF blended with jet fuel was in 2017, operating from Chicago O’Hare airport on a Boeing 777. It received its first SAF-powered A380 delivery in 2020, and also uplifted 32 tonnes of SAF for its flights from Stockholm that same year. Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Emirates operates first flight powered by 100% SAF

DISCOVER MORE

Middle East, Asia-Pacific airfares surge 53%, pose threat to recovery of aviation sector - ACI

Ryanair says price key to renewed Boeing jet order talks

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi launches 20% discount promotion

Singapore's SIA Engineering inks $857mln deal with Singapore Airlines

Lufthansa CEO says final talks with ITA Airways focused on price

Summer travel set to improve from last year

Maldives airport temporarily shut down after Flydubai aircraft suffers tire burst on landing

Airfares in APAC, Middle East surge as travel curbs ease

Five African cities hold more than 50% of continent's private wealth

AI may affect 300mln full-time jobs: Goldman Sachs

UAE approves 24 national initiatives to double re-export industry

BP and UAE's ADNOC bid for stake in NewMed Energy

UAE banking sector to remain stable in 2023 – KPMG

UAE President, Sheikh Mohammed review COP28 preparations

Dubai Free Zones Council commits to D33 goals; green economy

Dubai Free Zones Council sets green economy as a key priority on its agenda

Schneider Electric seeks disruptive ideas for greener cities

UAE: Major landmarks switch off lights for Earth Hour

LATEST VIDEO

VIDEO: Why is China's Belt and Road Initiative facing setbacks?

ZAWYA COVERAGE

UAE President appoints Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, deputy rulers

Middle East, Asia-Pacific airfares surge 53%, pose threat to recovery of aviation sector - ACI

DP World develops edible oil terminal at Port of Berbera

Maldives airport temporarily shut down after Flydubai aircraft suffers tire burst on landing

DFM introduces 'Omnibus Accounts' to enhance market access

Portugal's rents hit record high amid cost of living crisis

Egypt to raise allocation for food subsidies by 20% in FY 2023/24 draft budget

IMF and Seychelles reach over $100mln staff-level agreement

Nuclear row looms over EU renewable energy talks

THE BRI REPORT

China is reshaping the Belt and Road Initiative ahead of a post-pandemic era

DISCOVER MORE

LATEST VIDEO

ZAWYA NEWSLETTERS

ZAWYA COVERAGE