KLM Launches New Series of Biofuel Flights from Oslo to Amsterdam

(Newswire.com) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today launched a series of around 80 biofuel flights from Oslo to Amsterdam operated with an EMBRAER 190. The flights are marking yet another step in the right direction towards phasing in jet biofuel in the aviation industry.

The flights will depart from Avinor’s Oslo Airport, the first international airport hub in the world to supply biofuel directly from its hydrant system since January this year. For these specific flights, operated by KLM Cityhopper, sustainable jet fuel is delivered into wing by separate fuel trucks. This way, Embraer can conduct measurements to gauge the efficiency of sustainable jet fuel compared to fossil jet fuel.

The sustainable jet fuel is produced by Neste within the ITAKA* project (funded by the European Commission) and made available by Air BP and SkyNRG in close cooperation with Norwegian airport operator Avinor. The fuel is produced from RSB certified Camelina oil and in full compliance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The flights are partly funded by the partners in the KLM Corporate BioFuel Programme.

Jon Sjølander, Vice President Strategy Avinor: “Reducing carbon emissions from the aviation industry requires cooperation and coordination between several partners. Avinor has made a long-term commitment to make sustainable jet fuel available for airlines refueling at our airports. I am very pleased that KLM, one of the pioneers in development of sustainable jet fuel, has chosen Avinor’s Oslo Airport for these flights.”

Boet Kreiken, Managing Director KLM Cityhopper: “KLM believes that sustainable biofuel is important for the airline industry. For this reason, we have for some time been cooperating with different partners, including those united within the scope of the KLM Corporate BioFuel Programme, to stimulate the development of the market. Our new cooperative relationship with Embraer and Avinor serves to underscore just how important this is.”

Jorge Ramos, president of Embraer, Europe: “Embraer has been directly involved in several initiatives and partnerships for research and development of biofuels for aviation, but these flights with KLM are a flagship, as they represent the first initiative Embraer develops with aviation biofuels on regular flights. We will use the biofuel flights from Oslo to Amsterdam operated by the E190 to gather data to assess the performance of the engines using a percentage of jet biofuel in comparison with fossil-based kerosene.”

Maarten van Dijk, CEO SkyNRG: “For the coming years, the price gap between sustainable and fossil jet fuel remains the biggest challenge to create a stable market for sustainable jet fuel. Therefore, engagement of all stakeholders, including governments, fuel producers and suppliers, airports and airlines is crucial. We’re proud to collaborate with KLM, Embraer, ITAKA, the partners in the KLM Corporate BioFuel Programme, Air BP and Avinor in supplying sustainable jet fuel for these flights.”

About KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded on October 7 in 1919, making it the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name. In 2004, Air France and KLM merged to form AIR FRANCE KLM. The merger produced the strongest European airline group based on two powerful brands and hubs – Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Retaining its own identity, the group focuses on three core businesses: passenger transport, cargo and aircraft maintenance. In the Netherlands, KLM comprises the core of the KLM Group, which further includes KLM Cityhopper, transavia.com and Martinair. KLM serves all its destinations using a modern fleet and employs over 32,000 people around the world. KLM is a leader in the airline industry, offering reliable operations and customer-oriented products resulting from its policy of customer centricity, innovation and efficiency. KLM is a member of the global SkyTeam airline alliance, offering customers an extensive worldwide network. The KLM network connects the Netherlands to every important economic region in the world and, as such, serves as a powerful driver for the economy. www.klm.com

About SkyNRG
SkyNRG is the global market leader for sustainable jet fuel, having supplied more than 20 airlines worldwide. SkyNRG sources, blends and distributes sustainable jet fuel, guarantees sustainability throughout the supply chain and helps to co-fund the premium. At the same time, SkyNRG focuses on developing regional supply chains that offer a real sustainable and affordable alternative to fossil fuels. SkyNRG has its operations RSB certified and is structurally advised by an independent Sustainability Board in which the World Wide Fund for Nature the Netherlands (WWF-NL), Solidaridad and the Energy Academy Europe hold a seat. www.skynrg.com

About Embraer
Embraer is a global company headquartered in Brazil with businesses in commercial and executive aviation, defense & security. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing customer support and services. Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. About every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year. Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 130 seats. The company maintains industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers, among other activities, across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. www.embraer.com

*About ITAKA
The ITAKA (Initiative Towards sustaAinable Kerosene for Aviation) project aims at supporting the development of aviation biofuels in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable manner, improving the readiness of existing technology and infrastructures. ITAKA is the first project worldwide that demonstrates the entire value chain for biojet production and the first supported by the EU on this topic and scope. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 308807. www.itaka-project.eu

Avinor owns and operates Norway's main airport, Oslo Airport, which is an important communications hub in Norway with approximately 24 million travellers and more than 235,000 aircraft movements per year.

Avinor is responsible for the 46 state-owned airports and air navigation services for civilian and military aviation in Norway. This network links Norway together - and links Norway to the world.

Avinor is a driving force in environmental work in aviation and a driving force to reduce the combined greenhouse gas emissions from Norwegian aviation. The company has a leading role in the work on developing and delivering biofuel for aircraft. Every year Avinor contributes to safe and efficient travel for around 50 million airline passengers. Around half travel to and from Oslo Airport.

More than 3,000 employees are responsible for planning, developing and operating airports and air navigation services. Avinor is funded by aviation fees and commercial sales at the airports. READ MORE and MORE (Reuters) and MORE (Biofuels International) and MORE / MORE (GreenAir Online)

Excerpt from GreenAir Online: Oslo Airport is the recipient of this year’s Eco-Innovation Award from the independent advisory board of the industry’s carbon management programme, Airport Carbon Accreditation. Presented during ACI Europe’s annual congress in Athens, the judges in particular praised the airport for its ground-breaking project in setting up earlier this year a regular supply of jet biofuel through its existing fuel farm and hydrant dispenser system to all airlines serving the airport. Based on a collaboration with airlines, fuel companies and biofuel producers, the judges said it should be an example to be followed by other airports aiming to reduce their environmental footprint. During its congress, ACI Europe released annual results that show 107 airports across Europe are now part of the carbon programme, with 22 airports, including Oslo, at the highest carbon neutrality level. READ MORE