KQ becomes the 1st African Airline to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Nairobi, Friday May 26, 2023

KNA by Phinta Amondi

Kenya Airways (KQ) is the first African airline to pilot the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the long haul flights from Africa to Europe during its 2nd edition of The Sustainable Flight Challenge (TSFC).

As part of their initiative, KQ together with Sky Team Member Airlines, seek to demonstrate the future of aviation, by operating a sustainable, environmentally friendly Boeing 787-800(B787-8) Dreamliner, between Nairobi and Amsterdam.

SAF is the first of its kind to pave its way within Africa, especially in Kenya offers to generate valuable data and insights, consequently aiming to promote informed policy decisions, better regulatory frameworks and practices in the industry.

In his address, on Thursday, at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), KQ, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Group MD, Allan Kilavuka, said that the sustainable flight challenge is a competition designed to challenge the aviation industry by stimulating and accelerating innovation as well as bring change to the industry players through friendly competition.

Kilavuka voiced that in this year alone, 22 airlines are coming together to execute their most sustainable flights that will be used to develop and implement sustainable solutions for aviation in addition to promoting widespread adoption.

“Moments like these are testaments to the airline as Kenya’s flag bearer in championing Africa and the industry, to generate the most significant innovations to reduce aviation’s impact on the environment,” remarked Kilavuka.

He reiterated that Kenya Airways has partnered with Eni Sustainable Mobility, a leading SAF producer to obtain the fuel for the flight and will be locally blended by Flamex Petroleum Ltd, adding that they are committed to lead the way in reducing carbon footprint in the country.

The CEO noted that this is a significant milestone for the airline and broader African aviation industry as the success of this test flight is a driving force for socio economic development to the state, industry partners and government stakeholders.

Echoing the CEO remarks, KQ Captain, Hamdan Mohamed Khamis, remarked that the initiative seeks to improve job opportunities in the mining, agriculture, tourism and trade sectors not only in the country but also across the continent.

Khamis pointed out that if these opportunities are invested they will unlock our potential in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals and development in the sector and encourage involvement of the private sector.

“Today marks an important day for us as the only African airline participating in the challenge. We are in a new era in the aviation sector and are ready to create a positive change that will allow sustainability and development of our businesses,” said Khamis.

Further the Captain acknowledged that KQ’s successes itself as the Pride of Africa and such participate in the following award categories like Carbon dioxide emissions, Waste management, Sustainable Catering, Customer Involvement, Public Vote and Best Partnerships with Stakeholders during the challenge.

Courtesy ; K. N. A