KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today became the first airline in the world to operate a commercial flight carrying 171 passengers on biokerosene.
Flight KL1233 – a Boeing 737-800 – took off this afternoon at 12:30 hours from Schiphol bound for Charles de Gaulle in Paris carrying 171 passengers. State Secretary of Infrastructure and the Environment, Joop Atsma, was present for the flight’s departure.
"Last week KLM announced that they would be operating more than 200 flights to Paris on biokerosene in September this year. Today, KLM wrote history! KLM is ready and today they were pleased to show just that," said Managing Director of KLM, Camiel Eurlings shortly before departing for Paris.
In taking this initiative, KLM leads the world in showing that innovation and sustainability are inextricably linked. "It will be interesting to follow and stimulate the further development of biofuels. In taking this step, KLM clearly shows the value of finding clever ways to use waste derived from producers and consumers,” said State Secretary of Infrastructure and the Environment, Joop Atsma.
The Inspectorate for Transport, Public Works and Water Management (Inspectie Verkeer en Waterstaat – IVW) granted KLM permission to operate the flight. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing was also closely involved in making this first flight possible.
KLM’s first commercial flight to Paris was operated on biokerosene produced from used cooking oil. This same raw material will be used in the flights scheduled for September. The fuel was supplied by Dynamic Fuels via SkyNRG, the consortium co-founded by KLM in 2009 with the North Sea Group and Spring Associates.
KLM is open to using different raw materials for the end product, as long as they meet a range of sustainability criteria, including substantial reductions in CO2 emissions and minimum negative impact on biodiversity and food supply. All biofuels used by KLM also have to meet precisely the same technical specifications as traditional kerosene and must not require any adjustments to aircraft engines or infrastructure.
KLM has been committed to developing sustainable biofuel since 2007. Air France KLM is also an industry leader in the field of fuel efficiency. Air France KLM has been sector leader of de Dow Jones Sustainability Index for six successive years.
Source: Dutch Daily News