BERLIN/DUBAI, 6 June 2024 – Emirates has become the first international airline to join aireg, the Aviation Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany. The airline pledged its membership earlier today at ILA Berlin 2024 in an official signing ceremony, a significant move that underscores Emirates’ commitment towards improving the sustainability of its operations and to the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The pledge will see the airline contribute to efforts to ramp up locally produced SAF in Germany, complementing several other SAF-related initiatives Emirates has launched in the past few months.
The partnership between Emirates and aireg was signed in Berlin by Volker Greiner, Emirates Vice President North & Central Europe, and Siegfried Knecht, Chairman of the Executive Board of aireg. They were joined by Dr. Anna Christmann, Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy.
Sir Tim Clark, Emirates’ President commented on the new partnership with aireg: “We’re very pleased to become a member of aireg, and contribute to Germany’s efforts to build its capacities to become a centre for SAF production. Our industry requires large quantities of sustainable aviation fuel at a commercially viable cost, yet the shortage persists. Ramping up and furthering technologies for the production of SAF requires the partnership and support from multiple stakeholders and we are confident that aireg will lead in this regard.”
Siegfried Knecht, Chairman of the Executive Board of aireg, thankfully acknowledged the partnership between Emirates and aireg: “I am equally humbled and proud to welcome a leader in global aviation in our membership and on behalf of the entire aireg board I very much look forward to a fruitful partnership and cooperation. We need all hands on deck, airlines, airports, OEMs, producers, suppliers, RTOs, startups and of course politics to get us well on track towards net-zero by 2050.”
Germany is one of Emirates’ most important markets, and the airline has been part of German skies, cities and communities since 1987. aireg is committed to the increased production and use of regenerative aviation fuels in Germany.
Emirates currently operates flights from Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Paris, Lyon, Oslo and Singapore with SAF. Last year, the airline collaborated with Shell Aviation to supply SAF into Dubai Airport fuelling systems for the first time ever, allocating the SAF to a number of flights.
Emirates, the world’s largest A380 operator, returned to ILA Berlin for the 7th consecutive time. The Emirates A380 is on static display for all five airshow days, reaffirming the carrier’s longstanding commitment to the EU’s leading aerospace show.
The positioning flight from Berlin to Dubai on Monday will be operated with blended fuel that contains neat SAF, reinforcing the airline‘s active contribution as an exhibitor to reduce its carbon emissions at ILA Berlin 2024.
About aireg e.V.:
aireg – Aviation Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany e.V. was founded in 2011 as an association of companies and organisations from industry, research and science. As a non-profit initiative, aireg is committed to the availability and use of renewable energies in aviation in order to achieve the ambitious CO₂ reduction targets of the aviation industry. The members come from all areas of the value chain of renewable energies for aviation: This ranges from research at universities and large research institutions, plant manufacturers and operators, biorefineries, the petroleum industry, engine and aircraft manufacturers, governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations and airports to airlines. The industrial members internationally cover a broad international spectrum, from start-ups to large corporations.
About Emirates:
Emirates is the award-winning global airline that serves over 140 cities on six continents through its efficient hub in Dubai. It operates the world’s largest fleet of modern wide-body Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft that are fitted out with the latest comforts in the sky. Emirates has won numerous accolades for excellence across its operations, including being named World Class Airline at The APEX Official Airline Ratings™ awards, which stands at the pinnacle of all APEX Passenger Choice awards, and being rated Five Star Airline by APEX. For more information visit: www.emirates.com
Press contact
Markus Schlichenmaier | Sarah Mikoleizik
Press department Emirates
Wilde & Partner Communications
Franziskanerstraße 14, 81669 München
Tel. +49 (0)89 17 91 90 53
emirates@wilde.de
Maren Berthold
aireg e.V.
Research Associate
kontakt@aireg.de
www.aireg.de