Cooking oil makes comeback for KLM

KLM’s longest ever flight using biofuel takes the road to Rio+20

Flight KL705 departed from Amsterdam with a Boeing 777-200 and flew to the Rio+20 sustainable development conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Last week. representing, KLM’s longest biofuel flight ever. 

Passengers included State Secretary of Infrastructure and the Environment, Joop Atsma. The aircraft was partly flying on sustainable fuel made from Used Cooking Oil.

KLM has been working with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature since 2007 to develop biofuels. In 2009 the Dutch airline began test flights with biofuels.

It is the first airline to develop a biofuel programme, SkyNRG. The programme, launched on 21 June, will enable companies to operate some of their flights on sustainable biofuel, thereby stimulating the further development of biofuels.

Prominent companies such as Ahold, Heineken, Accenture, DSM, Philips, Nike and Schiphol Group have all joined the KLM biofuel programme.

"I am proud that we have their support ," said Camiel Eurlings, managing director KLM. "Using sustainable biofuel is one of the most important ways to make aviation more sustainable. We can only achieve this with partners who dare to stick their necks out," he said.

"Aviation is on the threshold of a small revolution. And at times like these it is best to lead from the front, like KLM. Those who take the pressure off nature today, are the winners of tomorrow. The rapid development of alternative, reliable biofuels is vital," says Johan van de Gronden, director of WWF-NL.

Anja Montijn-Groenewoud, Country Managing Director, Accenture Netherlands: "Accenture has the high ambition to be a sustainable company and sustainable mobility is an important part of this. We are delighted to join with other Dutch companies to take the lead and invest in a market which could have a major impact on the sustainability achievements of both aviation and Dutch businesses."

State Secretary Joop Atsma is pleased with this milestone. "The KLM BioFuel programme enables companies to join KLM and SkyNRG to demonstrate the leading position they occupy on sustainability.

I call upon Dutch businesses to join in to accelerate the development of biofuels and to stimulate a sustainable economy. I will do everything in my power to ensure that from 2013 Dutch officials on government business will travel as much as possible on biofuel flights, including the government’s own aircraft."

The fuel KLM uses is supplied by SkyNRG, the company KLM founded in 2009 with North Sea Group and Spring Associates. SkyNRG is now the world’s market leader for sustainable kerosene, supplying more than 15 carriers worldwide.

KLM is open to using different kinds of raw materials for the end product, as long as they meet a range of sustainability criteria, including a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions, and minimal negative impact on biodiversity and food supply. Likewise, all biofuels used by KLM meet the same technical specifications as traditional kerosene – no adjustments need to be made to aircraft engines or the infrastructure.

Valere Tjolle
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