Emirates has started using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for flights departing from Singapore Changi Airport, marking its first SAF investment in Asia. In recent weeks, approximately 3.3 million liters of blended SAF have been integrated into Changi Airport’s fueling system.
Emirates is closely monitoring the delivery of SAF into the fueling systems, ensuring accurate accounting and assignment of its environmental benefits through industry-accepted methodologies. Earlier this year, Emirates collaborated with Neste for the supply of 2.6 million liters of neat SAF at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Neste produces the SAF from sustainably sourced and 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. This SAF can be used safely in existing Emirates aircraft and airport fueling infrastructure. In neat form, it reduces lifecycle carbon emissions (CO2) by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.
Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer at Emirates, stated, “Emirates’ investment into Neste-produced SAF in Singapore marks a first step forward in our SAF adoption in Asia, a region that is primed to become a leading supplier of SAF, which continues to be in short supply. While the activation of this agreement marks a milestone in our SAF journey in a new region, there’s still a lot of work to do. And as we procure SAF for the short term, we’ve got our sights set on longer-term agreements to help scale up a steady supply of SAF for our operations.”
Alexander Kueper, Vice President of Renewable Aviation Business at Neste, added, “We are excited Emirates has started using our Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Changi Airport as the next step in our cooperation. It makes Emirates the first international visiting carrier using SAF at the airport produced at our Singapore refinery and supplied into the airport via our integrated supply chain. We are looking forward to continuing working together on scaling up the supply of SAF for Emirates’ operations.”
Emirates’ SAF Strategy and Achievements
Emirates’ multifaceted SAF strategy includes exploring operational use of SAF wherever available, sharing emissions reductions with corporate customers or freight forwarders, cooperating on long-term SAF projects with reputable partners, and supporting SAF ventures in the UAE for future supply at its hub.
The airline currently operates flights from Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Paris, Lyon, and Oslo with SAF. Emirates also integrated SAF into the fueling systems at its Dubai hub late last year. In 2023, Emirates was the first airline to operate two landmark demonstration flights from Dubai on the Boeing 777 and A380 with 100% SAF in one engine, in partnership with Neste and other committed partners. This supports future certification for 100% SAF use in commercial airline operations. Currently, SAF is approved for use in all aircraft but only in blends of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel.
Emirates has committed USD 200 million for research and development (R&D) projects focused on reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation. The airline recently became an industrial partner of the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA) based at the University of Cambridge, intending to share knowledge and data to support the development of tools and solutions to reduce the long-term impact of commercial aviation.
Emirates is a member of the Solent Cluster in the UK, which focuses on low-carbon investments and aims to create a SAF plant capable of producing up to 200,000 tonnes per year by 2032. Additionally, Emirates is a founding participant of the UAE research consortium Air-CRAFT, focused on developing, producing, and scaling SAF technologies for the industry.
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