Emirates announces ‘milestone’ sustainable aviation fuel flight

Emirates announces ‘milestone’ sustainable aviation fuel flight

DUBAI: Emirates said it successfully flew a Boeing 777 powered by sustainable aviation fuel on Monday, as the Middle East’s largest airline aims to halve its jet fuel consumption. The Dubai-based carrier has used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) since 2017, but said its test flight was “the first in the Middle East and North Africa to be powered by 100 percent SAF” in one of the plane’s two engines.

“This flight is a milestone moment,” said Emirate’s chief operating officer Adel Al-Redha. Currently, a maximum of 50 percent SAF blended with kerosene can be used in commercial jet engines. SAFs are made from sustainable biomass, recycled food oils, as well as captured CO2 or green hydrogen converted into synthetic fuels.

“If by 2030, we get 50 percent of the fuel from SAF, it could be quite a very good achievement,” Al Redha told AFP. “But that will depend on the ability of the companies to produce it and to deliver it… but equally also to bring it at a price that is affordable.”

Monday’s flight took off from Dubai International Airport and flew for more than hour over the city’s coastline, Emirates said. The SAF that was used in one engine “closely replicates