Emirates has commenced the activation of its fuel agreement with Neste this month at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Over 2 million gallons of blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) will be supplied into the fuelling system at Schiphol Airport throughout 2024. The airline will monitor the delivery of SAF into the fuelling systems and assess environmental benefits using standard industry accounting methodologies. Emirates’ collaboration with Neste, announced late last year, signifies one of the largest volumes of SAF purchases for the airline to date. Upon complete integration into Amsterdam Schiphol’s fuelling system, the blended SAF will have comprised over 700,000 gallons of neat SAF. The airline is also collaborating with Neste to supply SAF into the fuelling systems at Singapore Changi Airport in the coming months.
Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer at Emirates, remarked: “Partnering with committed allies like Neste is a practical step in our efforts to reduce emissions, marking a crucial milestone in our sustainability journey as an airline. Strong partnerships, particularly at major air transport hubs like Amsterdam, pave the way for collaboration with partners and airports to enhance access to and availability of SAF across our network.”
Alexander Kueper, Vice President Renewable Aviation at Neste, stated: “We are honoured to support Emirates in their sustainability endeavours. SAF presents a viable solution for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from air travel, and we are delighted that Emirates has begun utilising our Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. This collaboration exemplifies how we are working alongside partners to accelerate SAF adoption, and we look forward to further stages of our cooperation.”
SAF utilised under this agreement can be seamlessly integrated into existing jet engines and airport fuelling infrastructure. In neat form, it reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.
Emirates’ inaugural flight powered by SAF blended with jet fuel took place in 2017 from Chicago. The airline currently operates SAF-powered flights from Paris, Lyon, and Oslo. Last October, Emirates, with collaborative support, introduced SAF into Dubai Airport’s fuelling systems, allocating the SAF to several flights, including a flight to Sydney. Earlier this year, the airline became the first international carrier to join the Solent Cluster in the UK, an initiative focused on low-carbon investments with the potential to establish a SAF plant producing up to 200,000 tonnes per year if operational by 2032.
Emirates actively contributes to various industry and UAE government working groups, engaging in ongoing discussions with stakeholders to advance the production and supply of SAF. The airline, alongside the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, has played an active role in developing the UAE’s power-to-liquid (PtL) fuels roadmap, led by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the World Economic Forum. Additionally, Emirates contributes to the UAE’s National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap, aiming to position the UAE as a regional hub for alternative aviation fuels, aspiring to produce 700 million litres of SAF by 2030.
