Emirates to Invest $200m to Boost Sustainability in Commerci al Aviation

Emirates recently announced that it has pledged 200 million dollars towards research and development )R&D( projects aimed at reducing the environmental impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation. The funds will be disbursed over three years as part of Emirates’ commitment to sustainability. The company intends to partner with leading organizations specializing in advanced fuel and energy technologies to drive innovative solutions. The focus is on addressing the aviation industry’s greatest challenge—reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Current pathways for emissions reduction do not align with net zero targets within the expected timeline, necessitating the pursuit of better alternatives.

“We looked long and hard at the reality we face in commercial aircraft and engine technology, fuel supply chain, and our industry’s regulatory and eco-system requirements. It’s clear that with the current pathways available to airlines in terms of emissions reduction, our industry won’t be able to hit net zero targets in the prescribed timeline,” Emirates President Sir Tim Clark said. Clark underlined that the objective is to partner with organizations on R&D projects that contribute significantly to the long-term sustainability of commercial aviation. While solutions are being developed, Emirates remains committed to implementing environmentally responsible practices. This includes prioritizing the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), ensuring efficient fleet operations, and incorporating modern aircraft. The 200 million dollar fund specifically focuses on R&D and is separate from operating costs such as SAF purchases or carbon offsets.

The management of the fund will be overseen by Emirates’ Environmental Sustainability Executive Steering Group, supported by technical experts. The group will monitor disbursements and project progress. Emirates’ commitment to reducing emissions extends beyond financial investments. The airline actively explores fuel efficiency measures, including flexible routings, ground power units, and solar panels for operational buildings. Emirates actively participates in sustainable aviation fuel initiatives and contributed to the development of the UAE’s power-to-liquid (PtL) fuels roadmap.

Aviation: Local Airline Operators, Federal Government Bicker Over Nigeria Air

The static display of an aircraft in the fleet of the Nigeria Air last week has continued to generate controversy, as indigenous operators have accused the former minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, of a dangerous plot to kill the entire indigenous operators and handover monopoly to Ethiopian Airlines.

In a statement by the public relations officer, Airline Operators of Nigeria )AON(, Dr Obiora Okonkwo, stated that their action was borne out of the desire to save their investments in the aviation industry, He said, “AON really cares less about the ownership of Nigeria Air if the intentions are genuine and for the common good with strict compliance with the due process. After all, Ethiopian Airline is already operating multiple landing rights in Nigeria, British Airways are owned by IAG, a company registered in Spain but owned by Qatar as the major shareholder.

“The Canadian government owns less than 7% of Air Canada’s National carrier. Takatso, a Pan-African consortium, recently took over South Africa Airways, all we are saying is let the right thing be done the right way, for strictly the interest of Nigeria and her Aviation industry,” he said.

“We discovered some mind burgling dangerous agenda to kill the entire indigenous operators and handover monopoly to Ethiopian Airline in a dubious and fraudulent way against the economic interest of Nigeria, hence our court action supported by strong material evidence.

Book your seat for SAS’s first all-electric flight, the next chapter in aviation

Reservations opening for SAS’s first electric flight

SAS is inviting travelers to join them as they make history with the first electric commercial flight in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, expected to take place in 2028. The airline company is selling 30 tickets, each priced at 1946 kr )$179(, in tribute to the year SAS began flights. President and CEO Anko van der Werff says that since its foundation in 1946, SAS has been a pioneer in the airline industry. For example, it was the first commercial company to fly over the North Pole. He added: The aircraft will be a 30-passenger ES-30 model from Heart Aerospace, a Swedish electric airplane startup. SAS has supported the development of Heart’s electric airplane since 2019, signing a letter of support in September 2022 to introduce its newest 30-plane )ES-30( model to its regional fleet.

SAS is one of several companies investing in Heart’s electric aviation technology, including United Airlines and Air Canada.

The ES-30 is powered by four electric motors and an undisclosed battery system delivering 200 km )124 mi( of all-electric range. Although it may seem like a short distance, it’s perfect for regional air travel with 30 min fast charging to turn around flights quickly. In addition, Heart plans to double the all-electric range by the late 2030s. Although no details on the battery have been revealed, Heart partnered with BAE Systems, a defense and aerospace leader, to develop a “first of its kind” system in March.

Heart says it has received over 230 orders with another 100 options for its ES-30 aircraft, scheduled to enter service in 2028.

For those interested, you can head over to flysas.com/electric starting June 2 to book your seat )if you are one of the lucky 30(. However, SAS does not have a date or place of departure yet. These details will be emailed to travelers at a later date.

Go First Requests Regulator Not To Suspend AOC

India’s budget carrier Go First is in constant touch with authorities regarding its flight resumption plans. The airline is juggling multiple issues at the moment, from retaining pilots to ensuring it has enough airworthy planes to restart operations. And a recent report has said that it has assured India’s aviation regulator of its readiness to fly again so that its AOC does not get revoked.

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation )DGCA(, issued a show-cause notice to Go First soon after it suspended operations. The airline replied to the notice on May 19th and emphasized that it is taking all the necessary steps to be ready for flight resumption.

Businessline reports that sources in the DGCA have said that the carrier explained that its decision to file for insolvency was not due to an inability to operate. It was essentially done to address issues related to the airline’s debt-related matters.

The airline also assured that it is following all protocols in maintaining its aircraft, so they are ready for flight resumption, whenever that happens. Go First has requested that the DGCA not revoke its AOC because that could result in the airline collapsing, which would be very hard to recover from. A person familiar with the matter said,

Meanwhile, the airline has extended the suspension period of its flight once again, this time until June 4th. It is not taking any further bookings and is facing an increasing pile of refunds to be issued with every extension. There’s also the issue of having an adequate workforce to resume operations, particularly flying crew. Reports of Go First pilots leaving to join rival airlines have been doing the rounds lately. Air India has reportedly hired several Go First pilots who are undergoing training for their roles within the Tata-owned airline.

To keep its pilots from leaving, Go First has also come up with a retention allowance from June 1st in which captains will reportedly get ₹100,000 )$1,211(, while first officers will get ₹50,000 )$605(. Then there’s the issue of lessors who are unhappy with the bankruptcy protection given to the carrier, which prevents them from claiming their aircraft back. Reports suggest that as many as 40 lessor requests are pending with the DCGA, which has put them on hold until the carrier’s moratorium period is over. Here's hoping the carrier finds a way to tackle all these problems and successfully restarts operations.

Jet fuel becomes cheaper from today

ATP prices: The prices of jet fuel have been reduced today )June 1(. Jet fuel, also known as aviation turbine fuel )ATF(, prices are revised on the 1st of every month based on the average international benchmark rate and foreign exchange rates. For the month of June 2023, the ATF price is reduced to Rs 95, 935.34 per kilolitre in the national capital, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. Fuel retailers are supposed to revise petrol and diesel prices daily based on a 15-day rolling average of benchmark international fuel prices but they last did that on April 6, 2022.