Emirates Announces €180 Million Fund To Help Airlines Reach Net Zero Emissions

The money will fund research and development projects aimed at reducing the use of fossil fuels in aviation.

Emirates is creating a $200 million (€183m) fund to decarbonise the aviation sector.

The UAE's flag carrier airline made the announcement on Thursday ahead of releasing its annual report.

The money will fund research and development projects aimed at reducing the use of fossil fuels in commercial aviation.

The airline, owned by Dubai's government, said the funding would be distributed over three years.

The fund aims to help the industry hit net zero targets

"It’s clear that with the current pathways available to airlines in terms of emissions reduction, our industry won’t be able to hit net zero targets in the prescribed timeline," airline President Tim Clark said in a statement. 

"We believe our industry needs better solutions, and that’s why we’re looking to partner with leading organisations."

Emirates separately will aim to use so-called sustainable aviation fuel as well when possible - though it remains incredibly scarce in the market. 

In January, the airline successfully flew a Boeing 777 on a test flight with one of its two engines entirely powered by the fuel.

The announcement also comes ahead of Dubai hosting the COP28 climate talks in November.

Emirates saw record profits in 2022

The long-haul carrier also announced a profit of $2.9 billion (€2.65b) on Thursday, cementing last year as its most profitable ever.

The airline offered the figures in its annual report, which said the carrier had revenue of $29.3 billion (€26.8b).

The 2022 profit comes after the company posted a $1.1 billion (€1b) loss in 2021, when the pandemic shut down global aviation. The airline said revenue was up year-on-year by 81 per cent.

"We had anticipated the strong return of travel," Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman and chief executive of Emirates, said in a statement. "And as the last travel restrictions lifted and triggered a tide of demand, we were ready to expand our operations quickly and safely to serve our customers."

RECENT NEWS

This Swedish City Wants You To Put Down The Camera In Favour Of Brain-boosting IQ Tourism

Visitors to Uppsala are invited to discover more about the area’s history from the Vikings to more modern day inventio... Read more

Religious Tourism: 10 Portuguese Monuments To Visit At Easter

Located from the north to the south of Portugal, here are some of the most popular religious monuments to visit during H... Read more

Venices Hotel Boom: Luxury Openings Reshaping Stays In 2026

From restored palaces to coastal resorts, Venice and its surrounding region are welcoming a wave of luxury hotel opening... Read more

Childlike Wonder And Archival Photography: National Geographic Museum Of Exploration To Open In D.C.

The newly revamped museum will immerse visitors in the work of the nonprofit organisation’s researchers and take them ... Read more

Cyprus: Travel To The Middle East On The Rise - There Will Be No Repatriation Operation

There has been an increasing trend of travel to the countries covered by the travel directive of the Ministry of Foreign... Read more

This Residential Cruise Allows Passengers To Live Onboard – And Bring Their Furry Friends

Fabled Voyages is addressing a ‘key barrier’ to long-term travel, especially as interest in residential cruising gro... Read more