First Emirates flights fly with...

The Dubai-Sydney flights were among the first to operate with SAF

The first Emirates flights operating with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) have started flying from Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the UAE.

Shell has supplied 315,000 gallons of blended SAF for use at the airline’s Dubai hub enabling the airline to power a number of flights over the last few weeks.

The blended SAF comprised a ratio of 40% neat SAF and 60% conventional Jet A-1 fuel. The chemical characteristics at this ratio are identical to conventional jet fuel, and can be integrated into the existing airport fuel infrastructure as well as in the engines of the entire Emirates fleet with no modifications required.

In its neat form, SAF reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over its life cycle when compared with conventional jet fuel.

Emirates has also been tracking the delivery, use and environmental benefits of SAF through Avelia, Shell Aviation’s blockchain-powered book and claim solution.

Emirates Airline president Sir Tim Clark said: "We’re pushing ahead with proactive measures to enable more sustainable flying now and in the future, and powering flights from our Dubai hub is just one of the steps we’ve taken to reduce emissions and concretely help our customers minimise their own carbon footprint.

"We still have a long road ahead, and we hope that our partnership with Shell Aviation inspires more producers to address the supply gaps and make SAF readily available in major hubs like Dubai, as well as other points on our network."

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Emirates’ longstanding efforts have been and continue to be rooted in tangible, meaningful actions across three focus areas that form its environmental framework: reducing emissions, consuming responsibly and preserving wildlife and habitats.

This year, the airline announced the establishment of a US$200 million fund for research and development (R&D) projects focused on reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation, representing one of the biggest single commitments of any airline on sustainability.

Over the next three years, Emirates will identify partnerships with leading organisations working on solutions in advanced fuel and energy technologies.

Emirates operated the region’s first 100% SAF-powered demonstration flight in January and the airline has been actively championing the industry’s understanding of SAF and supporting standardisation and future certification of 100% SAF, which is currently not yet approved for commercial use.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com