Dubai: Emirates, the flagship carrier of Dubai, has commenced the activation of its fuel agreement with Finnish oil refining company Neste at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport this month, as announced on Wednesday. This move marks a significant step towards enhancing sustainability in aviation.
The partnership between Emirates and Neste was initially announced in 2023, highlighting the commitment of both entities to address environmental concerns in the aviation industry. The recent activation of the agreement signifies the tangible progress towards achieving their shared goals.
Emirates disclosed that over two million gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will be supplied into the fuelling system at Schiphol Airport throughout 2024. The airline emphasised its focus on tracking the delivery of SAF and the associated environmental benefits using standard industry accounting methodologies.
In addition to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Emirates is collaborating with Neste to supply SAF at Singapore Changi Airport in the coming months.
Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer of Emirates, expressed the significance of partnering with Neste, stating, "Collaborating with committed partners like Neste is one of the practical steps we are taking to reduce our emissions."
Alexander Kueper, Vice President of Renewable Aviation at Neste, highlighted the importance of SAF in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from air travel.
He said, "SAF is an available solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from air travel, and it is exciting that Emirates has started using our Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol"
Emirates has been proactive in adopting sustainable practices in aviation. The airline conducted its first flight powered by SAF blended with jet fuel in 2017. It has since integrated SAF into its operations, including flights from Paris, Lyon, Oslo and Dubai Airport.
Earlier this year, Emirates became the first international carrier to join the Solent Cluster initiative in the UK. This initiative focuses on low-carbon investments, with the potential to establish an SAF plant capable of producing up to 200,000 tonnes per year by 2032.