Carrier Emirates Tests Sustainable Fuel on Boeing 777
Emirates conducted a successful test flight of a Boeing 777 powered by sustainable aviation fuel. The airline is among many in the industry looking for ways to reduce its carbon footprint and become more environmentally sustainable.
Flight 2646 was a test flight that lasted for an hour, flying over the coastline of the UAE. The flight took off from Dubai International Airport and flew over the Persian Gulf before landing. For safety reasons, one of the Boeing 777's two engines ran on sustainable aviation fuel during the test, while the other ran on regular jet fuel.
“This flight is a milestone moment for Emirates and a positive step for our industry as we work collectively to address one of our biggest challenges—reducing our carbon footprint," Adel al-Redha, Emirates' chief operation officer, said in a statement.
Emirates is a state-owned airline under Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The sustainable aviation fuel used in the test flight was a blend having similar properties to conventional jet fuel and was sourced from the Finnish company Neste and the Wisconsin-based company Virent.
Virent produces sustainable jet fuel using plant-based sugars, and Neste's fuel is derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. Both fuels result in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.
Source: Pioneer
