Emirates latest sustainability move leans on Singapore Changi's impressive SAF stash

Travel Weekly

Emirates has begun using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of its agreement with Neste on flights departing from Singapore Changi Airport, marking its inaugural SAF investment in Asia.

Approximately 3.3 million litres of blended SAF have been integrated into the fuelling system of Changi Airport over the last few weeks.

Emirates is tracking the delivery of SAF into the fuelling systems, accounting for and assigning its environmental benefits through widely used and accepted industry methodologies.

Neste appears to be the go-to provider for SAF in the aviation market, recently unveiling with Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific.

Earlier this year, the airline closely collaborated with Neste for the supply of 2.6 million litres of neat SAF in the fuelling systems of Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

“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,” Emirates deputy president Adel Al Redha said.

“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.”

The SAF being provided by Neste is produced from sustainably sourced and 100 per cent renewable waste as well as residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste.

SAF used as part of this agreement can be safely used in existing Emirates aircraft, in airport fuelling infrastructure and in neat form reduces lifecycle carbon emissions (CO2) by up to 80 per cent compared to using conventional jet fuel.

“We are excited Emirates has started using our Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Changi Airport as the next step in our cooperation,” Neste VP renewable aviation business Alexander Kueper said.

“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’ multi-faceted SAF strategy focuses on exploring opportunities to use SAF operationally wherever it is available in its network, share emissions reductions with corporate customers or freight forwarders where feasible, cooperate on longer-term SAF projects with reputable partners and support SAF ventures in the UAE with the potential to supply sustainable aviation fuel at its hub in the future.

Emirates currently operates flights from Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Paris, Lyon and Oslo with SAF. The airline also integrated SAF into the fuelling systems at its Dubai hub late last year.

The airline has also committed US $200 million (AU $302m) to research and development (R&D) projects focussed on reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation