KLM commences commercial aviation biofuels flights

In the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today became the first airline in the world to operate a commercial flight carrying 171 passengers on aviation biofuels. 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.

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.

“Last week we announced that we would be operating more than 200 flights to Paris on biokerosene in September this year. Today, KLM wrote history! KLM is ready and today we 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.

Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech commented, “Hard to believe that in just 5 years we have gone from “you can’t fly on biofuels” to the first commercial flight operated using biokerosene. Amazing.”