The flight was operated from Dubai International (DXB) with
one of its four engines powered on 100 per cent SAF.
That successful flight, Emirates says, helped demonstrate
the potential of SAF “as a drop-in replacement that matches jet fuel’s
technical and chemical requirements, while being a more sustainable
alternative.”
This is the first time that drop-in SAF has been used on an
A380 aircraft.
The 100 per cent SAF was used in one Engine Alliance GP7200
engine, while conventional jet fuel was used in the other three engines. The
PW980 auxiliary power unit from Pratt & Whitney Canada also ran on 100 per
cent SAF.
The flight carried four tonnes of SAF, comprised of HEFA-SPK
provided by Neste (hydro processed esters and fatty acids synthetic paraffinic
kerosene) and HDO-SAK from Virent (hydro deoxygenated synthetic aromatic
kerosene).
ENOC secured the neat SAF comprised of HEFA-SPK, and blended
it with Sustainable Aviation Kerosene (SAK) at its facility in Dubai
International ahead of the demonstration.
Adel Al Redha, chief operating officer at Emirates Airline,
said, “Emirates is the first passenger airline in the world to operate an A380
with 100 per cent drop-in SAF powering one of four Engine Alliance GP7200
engines. This is another proud moment for Emirates and our partners, as we put
words into action with the research into and the trialling of higher
concentrations of SAF to eventually lead to industry adoption of 100 per cent
SAF flying.”
SAF is currently capped at a 50 per cent blend limit in
engines for commercial flights.
“Seeing Emirates flying an A380, the world’s largest
airliner, powered by an engine running on 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation
Fuels is a symbolic moment. These fuels are the most effective way to address
CO2 emissions in the aviation industry today. SAF is vital to meeting the
sector’s target of net zero emissions in 2050, but needs the backing of the
whole industry. At Airbus, we are working to make all our aircraft 100 per cent
SAF-capable by 2030,” added Julie Kitcher, Airbus executive vice president Communications
and Corporate Affairs.
Emirates implements measures to decarbonise operations
Earlier this year, Emirates completed the first 100 per cent
SAF-powered demonstration flight in the region on a GE90-powered Boeing
777-300ER.
Subsequently, Shell Aviation reached an agreement with
Emirates to supply the airline with more than 300,000 gallons of blended SAF
for use at DXB. Last month, the first Emirates flight operating with that SAF
took off from the airport.
Emirates also recently expanded its partnership with Neste
for the supply of more than 3 million gallons of blended SAF in 2024 and 2025
for flights departing from Amsterdam Schiphol and Singapore Changi airports.
The blended SAF will comprise over one million gallons of neat SAF. This
represents a blended ratio of over 30 per cent neat SAF combined with
conventional Jet A-1 fuel.
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