This month marks another milestone for Emirates and its commitment to sustainability, as the airline kicks off its collaboration with Neste to introduce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. This pioneering step involves the integration of over 2 million gallons of blended SAF into Schiphol’s fuelling system throughout 2024, setting a precedent for the airline’s environmental initiatives.
Late last year, Emirates announced its partnership with Neste, a leader in renewable solutions, embarking on one of its most ambitious SAF purchases to date. The initiative will see more than 700,000 gallons of neat SAF being blended into the fuel supply at Amsterdam Schiphol, with plans to expand this effort to Singapore Changi Airport in the coming months. This collaboration not only signifies Emirates’ dedication to reducing its carbon footprint but also highlights the role of strong partnerships in making sustainable aviation a reality.
Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer, emphasized the importance of collaborations with committed partners like Neste in achieving the airline’s sustainability goals. Such partnerships, especially at major transportation hubs, are crucial for enhancing SAF accessibility across Emirates’ network.
Echoing this sentiment, Alexander Kueper, Vice President of Renewable Aviation at Neste, expressed pride in supporting Emirates on its sustainability journey. He highlighted SAF’s role as a readily available solution to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from air travel, praising the initiative as a step towards broader SAF adoption.
Fueling the Future of Flight
SAF’s integration into existing aviation infrastructure presents a seamless approach to significantly reducing lifecycle carbon emissions—by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel. Emirates’ foray into SAF-powered flights began in 2017 with a journey from Chicago, and the airline has since expanded its use of SAF in flights from Paris, Lyon, and Oslo. Moreover, Emirates successfully introduced SAF into Dubai Airport’s fuelling systems last year, marking another leap towards sustainable aviation.
Further solidifying its leadership in the field, Emirates joined the Solent Cluster in the UK earlier this year, contributing to a project with the potential to create a SAF plant producing up to 200,000 tonnes annually by 2032. The airline is actively involved in various industry and UAE government working groups, advocating for the expansion of SAF production and supply.
As a founding participant of the UAE research consortium Air-CRAFT, Emirates is at the forefront of developing and scaling SAF technologies. This initiative, coupled with the UAE’s ambition to become a regional hub for alternative aviation fuels, underscores Emirates’ proactive approach to fostering a sustainable future for the aviation sector.
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