Emirates takes another step forward on its environmental mission to reduce emissions as it announced that nearly one third of its dedicated fleet of transport buses for its cabin crew in Dubai will now operate on biofuel.
Al Wegdaniyah, the airline’s contracted service provider, has committed to operate all its road trips with biodiesel, which will be provided by Neutral Fuels, one of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) leading producers of biofuels that utilizes locally sourced, used cooking oil as feedstock.
Emirates, the largest airline and flag carrier of the UAE, commissions a fleet of nearly four dozen buses in Dubai alone that will safely shuttle its cabin crew between their homes and the workplace, clocking an average of 700,000 kilometers in a normal month. Similar to operations in the air, route and schedule planning for ground transport is also an important aspect to maximize transport efficiency and reduce emissions.
The estimated carbon dioxide savings from this initiative alone is 75,000 kg annually, and the airline continues to work with its other transport suppliers to extend this initiative across the transport fleet.
Karl W. Feilder, CEO of Neutral Fuels. congratulated Emirates and Al Wegdaniyah for the initiative, pointing out that it is in line with the energy-related sustainability goals that the UAE has committed to achieve by 2050. Using biofuel reduces greenhouse gases and other pollutants, and the change can be easily made because switching from fossil fuel to biofuel requires no modification to diesel engines. It has a positive effect on engines because its lubricating properties help prevent premature wear and failure, and it even acts as a detergent in fuel systems, removing sludge deposits to help improve efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.
Also, Emirates is also conducting tests using electric buses airside at Dubai International airport to transport its crew between the terminal and aircraft.
Over the years, the airline has invested in electric vehicles for its on-ground operations where feasible. For instance, at its state-of-the-art Emirates Engineering Center in Dubai, which is a complex of hangars, workshops, material stores and offices, over 130 electric buggies and 80 electric material-handling vehicles including forklifts, are being utilized for day-to-day operations.
Emirates is committed to environmental stewardship, focusing its ongoing efforts in three main areas: emissions reduction, responsible consumption, and the preservation of wildlife and habitats.
The airline also has a comprehensive fuel efficiency program that actively investigates and implements ways to reduce unnecessary fuel burn and emissions wherever it is operationally feasible, whether in the air or on the ground.
Operating modern and fuel-efficient aircraft has been central to Emirates’ business model from the airline’s inception. This ongoing multibillion-dollar investment is by far its biggest commitment, not only to passenger comfort, but also in reducing environmental impact.
For more information visit: www.emirates.com/english/about-us/our-planet/.