First SAF Emirates flight departs from Dubai

Nov 6, 2023 - 10:26 am

Emirates has operated its first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)-powered flight from Dubai International Airport.

The SAF was provided by Shell Aviation, which has supplied 315,000 gallons of blended SAF for use at the airline’s hub in Dubai.

Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, said, “We’re pushing ahead with proactive measures to enable more sustainable flying now and in the future, and powering flights from our Dubai hub is just one of the steps we’ve taken to reduce emissions and concretely help our customers minimise their own carbon footprint.

“We still have a long road ahead, and we hope that our partnership with Shell Aviation inspires more producers to address the supply gaps and make SAF readily available in major hubs like Dubai, as well as other points on our network.”

Shell’s blended SAF comprises 40% neat SAF and 60% conventional Jet A-1 fuel. The chemical characteristics at this ratio are identical to conventional jet fuel and can be integrated into the existing airport fuel infrastructure and the entire Emirates fleet with no modifications.

Jan Toschka, president of Shell Aviation, commented, “Emirates and Shell have a long-standing history of collaboration, and we are thrilled to continue this journey together to enable SAF usage in the UAE. This first-ever supply of SAF to Emirates in Dubai is an example of what can be achieved when different parts of the aviation value chain come together. Our hope is that this milestone will inspire further advancements in SAF adoption throughout the aviation industry in the UAE and the wider region.”

Emirates first began using SAF in 2017, with flights from Stockholm, Paris, Lyon, Oslo and Chicago operating with blended SAF. The airline operated the UAE’s first 100% SAF-powered demonstration flight in January.

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