Emirates secures SAF supply from Shell for DXB

Emirates has signed an agreement with Shell Aviation to supply over 300,000 gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use at Dubai International Airport. 

The first delivery is expected to commence before the end of the year, the first time SAF is supplied through the DXB airport fuelling system, the airline said in a statement.

The agreement is the latest move as part of Emirates’ environmental strategy that focuses on emissions reduction, responsible consumption and the conservation of wildlife and habitats.

• 2023: the year airlines said goodbye to the pandemic
• Aviation offset rules face shake-up as doubts persist
• Dubai International raises air passenger target to 85m

Earlier this year, Emirates completed the region’s first 100 percent SAF-powered demonstration flight. The airline’s first flight powered by SAF blended with jet fuel took place in 2017, operating from Chicago on a Boeing 777. 

The airline has also uplifted SAF for flights from Stockholm and currently operates flights from Paris, Lyon and Oslo with blended SAF.

In May, Emirates allocated $200 million for research and development projects focused on lowering the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation. It will sign partnerships with organisations working on solutions in advanced fuel and energy technologies.  

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said in April that the airline is buying SAF to reduce the environmental impact of air travel. 

However, he labelled the fuel “exorbitantly expensive” and says it is only available in low volumes “because the production cost is too high”.

Last year, Emirates and UAE General Civil Aviation Authority contributed to developing the UAE’s power-to-liquid fuels roadmap.