ETW Staff– Mumbai
KLM will launch a series of biofuel flights to Aruba and Bonaire over a period of six months, operating an Airbus 330-200. The biofuel for this flight will be sourced by ITAKA and supplied by SkyNRG. This marks a step towards more sustainable aviation, by reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel consumption through enhanced engine performance and utilising lighter and more efficient aircraft.
Camiel Eurlings, president and CEO, KLM, said, “I am proud that once again KLM is demonstrating its pioneering role in the development and commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuels, together with new partners the European Commission and Airbus. This new series of biofuel flights to Aruba and Bonaire follow the New York series of last year and the launch of the Bioport Holland collaboration for which we recently received a Sustainable Bio Award.”
At Aruba Airport, Mike Eman, prime minister of Aruba, will welcome this special flight carrying Camiel Eurlings, president and CEO KLM, Jos Nijhuis, CEO Schiphol Group, Paul Riemens, CEO LVNL and chair of CANSO, Johan van de Gronden, CEO of WWF-NL, Andrea Debbane, Head of Environmental Affairs Airbus Group, and Paul Verhoef, Head of Unit Renewable Energy Resources of the European Commission.
KLM also cooperated with the World Wide Fund for Nature in the Netherlands (WWF-NL) within the context of these flights, expanding on the partnership it entered into in 2007 to promote more sustainable aviation.
Recently, KLM’s Corporate BioFuel programme include two new partners; Friesland Campina and Ricoh. This will enable the companies to fly on sustainable biofuel for a portion of their total flight volume, or on specific routes, thereby stimulating the further development of biofuel and reducing the aviation industry’s carbon footprint.
KLM and the Dutch government chose Aruba and Bonaire as the best destination for these flights because both islands have a high sustainability agenda, aiming to be carbon neutral by 2020. The European Commission and KLM will use this series to demonstrate the potential of biofuel for air travel and their contribution towards reducing the environmental impact of aviation.
