Kenya national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) is set to become the first African airline to fly probably the most sustainable commercial long-haul flight from Africa to Europe.

The flight, which is part of the Sustainable Flight Challenge (TSFC) between SkyTeam member airlines, brings together 22 airlines for a friendly contest to attain the most sustainable flight possible.

For the particular sustainable return flight between Nairobi and Amsterdam, KQ has settled on a Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner.

For this flight, KQ has partnered with Eni Sustainable Mobility, a leading SAF producer, to obtain SAF for the trip and locally with Flamex Petroleum Ltd in the blending of the fuel.

KQ has become the first African airline to utilize Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from Eni Sustainable Fuel for a long-haul commercial flight from Africa to Europe.

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Plans covering light travel for guests, route planning, onboard meals and packaging, guests and crew transportation, and gifts were all sustainably prepared as part of flights KQ116 and KQ117.

During the flight departure at JKIA, KQ Group MD and CEO Allan Kilavuka said the trip is key for Africa to create major innovations to cut aviation industry’s impact on the environment.

“On the planet sustainability, we are focusing on helping to decarbonize the aerospace through fleet types that have the least amount of carbon emission, reducing our fuel burn through routing, managing our waste through recycling, and deploying the use of solar and SAF as alternative energy,” said Kilavuka.

He added, “The piloting of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for the first time on a KQ long-haul commercial flight will generate valuable data and insights that can inform policy decisions, regulatory frameworks, and industry best practices related to SAF.”

KQ Group MD and CEO Allan Kilavuka flanked by Captain Hamdan Mohamed Khamis as he flags off KQ’s sustainable flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam to participate in SkyTeam Alliance’s sustainable flight challenge. PHOTO/KQ

Kilavuka called on stakeholders in the aviation industry stakeholders to work together to drive sustainable approaches and achieve positive change in the aviation industry.

Some of the areas KQ will submit for consideration include:

• Sustainable flight and ground operations initiatives.

• A sustainably curated in-flight menu.

• A carbon offsetting program for customers.

• E-mobility for guests.

• Travel light policy.

• Eco-friendly blankets make of recycled R-Pet Polyester

• Eco-conscious packaging for the onboard meals

• Waste management initiatives, amongst others.

The winners of the 2023 Sustainable Flight Challenge will be feted during an awards ceremony slated for October.