Milestone SAF-powered flight takes...

Emirates becomes first passenger airline in the world to operate a Boeing 777 powering a GE engine with 100% SAF

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, flying over the city’s 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.

Currently, SAF is approved for use in all aircraft, but only in blends of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel.

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 standardisation and future approval of 100% drop-in SAF as a replacement for jet fuel, well above the current 50% blend limit.

“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 demonstration 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 more affordable for broader industry adoption in the future."

The airline already runs a comprehensive fuel efficiency programme that investigates ways to reduce unnecessary fuel burn and emissions wherever possible.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com