Emirates Launches World’s First A380 Flight with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Emirates has become the world’s first airline to operate an A380 demonstration flight using 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
The flight took off on November 22 from Dubai International Airport (DXB) with one of four engines powered on 100 percent SAF, helping demonstrate its potential as a “drop-in replacement” that matches jet fuel’s technical and chemical requirements, while being a more sustainable alternative.
The 100 percent SAF was used in one Engine Alliance GP7200 engine, while conventional jet fuel was used in the other three engines. The PW980 auxiliary power unit (APU) from Pratt & Whitney Canada also ran on 100 percent SAF.
“This is another proud moment for Emirates and our partners, as we put words into action with the research into and the trialling of higher concentrations of SAF to eventually lead to industry adoption of 100 percent SAF flying. This marks another significant step in validating the use of SAF in one of the engines of the A380, a wide-body aircraft with four engines,” Emirates Airline Chief Operating Officer Adel Al Redha said.
SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85 percent over the fuel’s life cycle when compared to conventional jet fuel.
According to Emirates, demonstration flights like the one conducted on November 22 pave the way for future standardisation, qualification and adoption for 100 percent SAF flying, as governments adopt broader strategies to support the production and scale up of SAF.
The 100 percent drop-in SAF used on the flight included renewable aromatics and closely mimics the characteristics of conventional jet fuel.
It was the first time that drop-in SAF was used on an A380 aircraft, with the expectation of full compatibility across the aircraft’s existing systems.
The flight carried four tonnes of SAF, comprised of HEFA-SPK provided by Neste (hydro processed esters and fatty acids synthetic paraffinic kerosene) and HDO-SAK from Virent (hydro deoxygenated synthetic aromatic kerosene).
“The growing global demand for lower-emission jet fuel alternatives is there, and the work of producers and suppliers to commercialise SAF and make it available will be critical in the coming years to help Emirates and the wider industry advance our path to lower carbon emissions,” Al Redha said.
Emirates participates in a range of industry and UAE government working groups, along with ongoing stakeholder engagements to help scale the production and supply of SAF.
Earlier this year, Emirates successfully completed the first 100 percent SAF-powered demonstration flight in the region on a GE90-powered Boeing 777-300ER.
Last month, the first Emirates flights operating with SAF provided by Shell Aviation took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB). Shell supplied 315,000 gallons of blended SAF for use at the airline’s hub in Dubai.
The airline recently 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.
Emirates currently uplifts SAF in Norway and France and the airline continues to seek opportunities to use SAF at various airports as supply becomes available.