Emirates commences SAF-powered flights from Singapore’s Changi Airport

Emirates has announced the integration of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into its operations at Singapore Changi Airport, marking the airline’s first SAF investment in Asia.

This initiative, part of a fuel agreement with Neste, has seen approximately 3.3 million litres of blended SAF incorporated into the airport’s fueling system over recent weeks.

Emirates is carefully tracking the delivery of SAF into the fuelling systems, ensuring the environmental benefits are accounted for and assigned through industry-standard methodologies.

Earlier this year, the airline collaborated with Neste to supply 2.6 million litres of neat SAF at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

Read: Emirates to now use SAF on flights from Schiphol Airport

How Neste produces SAF

Produced from sustainably sourced and 100 per cent renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste, Neste’s SAF can be used safely in existing Emirates aircraft and fueling infrastructure.

In its neat form, SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to conventional jet fuel.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ deputy president and COO, said: “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. 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.”

Alexander Kueper, VP of Neste’s Renewable Aviation Business, added: “We are excited Emirates has started using our Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Changi Airport as the next step in our cooperation. 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’ comprehensive SAF strategy aims to utilise SAF operationally wherever available in its network, share emissions reductions with corporate customers and freight forwarders, cooperate on long-term SAF projects with reputable partners, and support SAF ventures in the UAE for potential future supply at its hub.

How Emirates is using SAF

Currently, the airline operates flights from Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Paris, Lyon, and Oslo using SAF.

The carrier also incorporated SAF into the fueling systems at its Dubai hub late last year.

In 2023, Emirates conducted two landmark demonstration flights from Dubai on the Boeing 777 and A380 with 100 per cent SAF in one engine, in partnership with Neste and other committed partners, supporting future certification for 100 per cent drop-in SAF for commercial operations.

Presently, SAF is approved for use in blends of up to 50 per cent with conventional jet fuel.

Additionally, Emirates has committed $200m for research and development projects aimed at reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation. The airline recently became an industrial partner of the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA) at the University of Cambridge, sharing knowledge, data, and insights to develop innovative solutions to mitigate the long-term impact of aviation.

As a member of the Solent Cluster in the UK, Emirates is involved in initiatives focused on low-carbon investments, including the potential creation of a SAF plant capable of producing up to 200,000 tonnes annually by 2032. Emirates is also a founding participant of the UAE research consortium Air-CRAFT, which focuses on developing and scaling SAF technologies for the industry.