Morocco’s carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and Afriquia SMDC launched Africa’s first carbon-neutral flight, powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). Flight AT 505, operated by Boeing 787-9, landed at Dakar’s Blaise Diagne airport on Saturday, three and a half hours after taking off from Casablanca’s Mohammed V airport.
“This historic event coincides with the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai,” said the two parties in a joint statement.
The Dreamliner, which was fully booked with 302 passengers, used almost 9 tons of sustainable aviation fuels, i.e. 40% of the quantity needed for the flight, avoiding the emission of almost 23 tons of CO2.
CO2 emissions from the remaining conventional fuel used for this flight (i.e. 60% of the fuel volume) will be offset by RAM, as part of the voluntary carbon offset program run by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environment Protection.
The sustainable aviation fuels brand used for flight AT 505 requires no engine modifications. It is derived from processed old vegetable oils and offers a reduction of up to 90% in CO2 emissions’ lifecycle compared to fossils.
Morocco is strongly committed to accelerating the decarbonization of air transportation, as do major industry leaders, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with the incorporation of 10% of SAF as early as 2030, said RAM Chairman and CEO Hamid Addou.
Afriquia SMDC Managing Director Said El Baghdadi underlined that this is a proactive environmental strategy, and the company is resolutely committed to exploring all possible solutions to ensure the integration of long-term sustainability objectives of air transport in Morocco.
Royal Air Maroc has been working for several years to reduce its carbon footprint through a number of projects. These include fleet renewal and the gradual integration of new-generation aircraft such as Dreamliners, enabling a 25% reduction in carbon footprint.
The company has also put in place an ambitious program to reduce its energy consumption, including a reduction in on-board weight, optimized flight plans and eco-responsible aircraft maintenance procedures.
These measures, laid down in its Fuel Efficiency Program (FEP), have enabled RAM to reduce its fuel consumption by 10% and its CO2 emissions by 10%.
The Moroccan airline company implemented another energy-efficiency project in its buildings, and earned for it the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, a globally recognized label for sustainable development.
In 2023, Royal Air Maroc was awarded IEnvA (IATA Environmental Assessment) certification, an environmental management system deployed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to certify compliance with environmental standards.
SAF are alternative fuels for aviation, produced from completely or partially renewable resources, such as biomass, algae, food waste, and hydrogen.