Emirates to conduct test flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel

Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates will conduct a test flight using 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by the end of 2022 to help minimise CO2 emissions.

The airline has signed an agreement with GE Aviation, a subsidiary of US-based conglomerate GE, for the test flight.

The test flight will demonstrate how wide-body commercial aircraft using jet fuel made from alternative sources can lower lifecycle CO2 emissions compared to petroleum-based fuels with no operational issues.

SAF is synthetically derived from alternative renewable sources and developed more sustainably, as opposed to conventional petroleum-based fuels. SAF can start from various feedstock sources, such as oils from plants, algae, greases, fats, waste streams, alcohols, sugars, and captured CO2.

According to the International Air Transport Association (Iata), more than 45 airlines now have experience with SAF and over 370,000 flights have taken to the skies using SAF since 2016. It is estimated that around 100 million litres of SAF will be produced in 2021.

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-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com