Emirates fleet 26 percent more efficient

The Emirates Group released its first comprehensive environmental report, a study that revealed the airline's carbon dioxide emissions efficiency was 26 percent better than the global airline average. Andrew Parker, Senior Vice-President, Public, Industry, International and Environmental Affairs said, "Emirates takes its commitment to the environment very seriously and strives to be an industry innovator and leader. The report is more than a snap-snot of the performance of the Group; it will act as a future measure of success in all we do." The Emirates Group's commitment to fuel efficiency is the recent participation of Emirates Airline in the 'INSPIRE,' Indian Ocean Strategic Partnership to Reduce Emissions, programme, with two test flights, one from Dubai to Brisbane, the second from Perth to Dubai. The aim of the INSPIRE initiative is to gauge the improved environmental impact of a perfect flight' minimizing on-ground delays, using expedient taxi- and runways, conducting gradual climb and descent paths while flying direct optimum routes based on existing meteorological and airspace conditions. The results from these two flights alone resulted in a combined total saving of over 6,250 litres of fuel and more than 16,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions. Based on an estimated 63 flights per week, approximate savings for the year would be in the order of 2.47 million litres of fuel and 6,850 tonnes of carbon dioxide, in 2011. The INSPIRE flights are only one example of our continuous efforts to reduce environmental impact and the group’s commitment to a greener future, Captain Alan Stealey, Divisional Senior Vice President Flight Operations said, “This environmental achievements can be attributed to its young and eco-efficient fleet and enhanced operational procedures in the air.” Emirates said that it recognizes the environmental performance of ground operations is also critical. Activities such as Dnata ground handling, cargo, engineering, catering and staff accommodation, have all been taken into account in this first reporting period. With over 60,000 staff worldwide, and operations in six continents, the prospective scope of the report was enormous.