In a groundbreaking achievement, Emirates has become the world’s first airline to conduct a demonstration flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The historic flight, led by Captain Khalid Binsultan and Captain Philippe Lombet, took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB).
The demonstration showcased the viability of SAF as a direct replacement for traditional jet fuel in one of the aircraft’s engines, presenting a potential 85% reduction in carbon emissions over the fuel’s life cycle. This development aligns with ongoing efforts in the aviation industry, as highlighted at the Third International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) in Dubai.
Collaborators from Airbus, Engine Alliance, Pratt & Whitney, Neste, Virent, and ENOC played crucial roles in testing, technical assessments, and data analysis for this milestone flight. The 100% drop-in SAF used in the demonstration closely mimics conventional jet fuel characteristics, making it compatible with existing systems on the A380.
Four tonnes of SAF, a combination of HEFA-SPK from Neste and HDO-SAK from Virent, were used in one Engine Alliance GP7200 engine, while the other three engines operated on conventional jet fuel. ENOC facilitated the blending of SAF and Sustainable Aviation Kerosene (SAK) at its Dubai International Airport facility.
Emirates Chief Operating Officer, Adel Al Redha, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “This marks another significant step in validating the use of SAF in one of the engines of the A380.” He highlighted the global demand for lower-emission jet fuel alternatives and underscored the importance of producers and suppliers working to commercialize SAF.
Emirates has been actively pursuing sustainable aviation initiatives, having previously completed a 100% SAF-powered demonstration flight on a Boeing 777-300ER. The airline expanded its partnership with Neste for the supply of over 3 million gallons of blended SAF in 2024 and 2025 for flights departing from Amsterdam Schiphol and Singapore Changi airports.
The airline continues to uplift SAF in Norway and France and actively participates in industry and UAE government initiatives to scale the production and supply of SAF. Emirates played a role in developing the UAE’s power-to-liquid (PtL) fuels roadmap and is engaged in the UAE’s National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap launched in January 2023.
