KLM launches E190 Oslo-Amsterdam biofuel flights

KLM has launched a series of around 80 biofuel flights from Oslo to Amsterdam using an Embraer E190. The remaining flights will be operated over a period of five to six weeks, KLM said. They will depart from Oslo Airport (Avinor), the first airport to supply biofuel directly from its hydrant system in January this year. Oslo Airport has begun supplying Air BP Biojet via its regular fuel hydrant system, for launch customers KLM, Lufthansa Group and SAS. In addition to biofuel supplied from the hydrant system, biofuel will also be delivered by separate fuel trucks for a series of KLM Cityhopper flights to measure the efficiency of biofuel compared with kerosene during the Embraer flights. “Embraer has been directly involved in several initiatives and partnerships for research and development of biofuels for aviation, but these flights with KLM are a flagship, as they represent the first initiative Embraer develops with aviation biofuels on regular flights … [these tests] will bring the commercialization of alternative energy sources for air travel one step closer,” Embraer president-Europe Jorge Ramos said. KLM previously conducted similar tests in cooperation with Airbus and Boeing. The biofuel for this series of flights is produced from 100% RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) certified camelina oil and in full compliance with the European Union (EU) RED standard. The biofuel is produced within the Initiative Towards SustAinable Kerosene for Aviation (ITAKA) project and supplied by Air BP and biofuel supplier SkyNRG.<br/>