First Etihad Airways flight using SAF departs Tokyo

The first Etihad Airways flight to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) took off from Tokyo Narita airport.

The EY871 flight, that departed Tokyo Narita at 3pm, was the result of a partnership in which ITOCHU Corporation provided Neste MY sustainable aviation fuel to Etihad, making the carrier the first international airline to procure SAF in Japan.

The flight operated on a ~40 per cent blend of SAF, representing the first delivery of some 50,000 gallons of SAF, to be used over a number of flights in coming weeks. It is the first time a non-Japanese airline has used SAF supplied in Japan.

The flight reduced CO2 by approximately 75.2 tCO2, based on the estimated fuel volume (20,000 USG) at a blend of 39.66 per cent SAF, a statement said. It also managed non-CO2 environmental impacts through optimised flight planning for contrail prevention.

Cassie Mackie, vice president procurement and supply chain, Etihad Airways, said: “The aviation industry needs partnerships like the one we have created with ITOCHU and NESTE to bring widespread SAF adoption to the industry.”

“Etihad is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and reducing our 2019 emissions by 50 per cent by 2035. The industry must get serious about decarbonisation and this type of collaboration between governments, corporates and the aviation sector, which increases SAF supply and availability at airports, helps pave the way for broader adoption.”

Aircraft condensation trails, or contrails, cause surface warming responsible for up to 60 per cent of aviation’s overall climate footprint. In December 2021, the Japanese government announced the goal of replacing 10 per cent of aviation fuel consumption by Japanese airlines with SAF by 2030. To achieve this goal, ITOCHU established a SAF supply network at Japanese domestic airports across the country for domestic carriers, which is now being expanded to international carriers, starting with Etihad.