AMSTELVEEN, 23 November 2009 - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today operated its first ever passenger flight powered by sustainable biokerosene. To give an extra impulse to sustainable air transport, KLM today also joined hands with North Sea Petroleum and Spring Associates to establish the SkyEnergy consortium.

Foto: KLM / Allard de Witte

AMSTELVEEN, 23 November 2009

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today operated its first ever passenger flight powered by sustainable biokerosene. To give an extra impulse to sustainable air transport, KLM today also joined hands with North Sea Petroleum and Spring Associates to establish the SkyEnergy consortium.

“KLM leads the sustainability drive in global aviation. The Netherlands should make good use of this leading position to ensure clean, silent and sustainable air transport worldwide,” said KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman.
“This is technically feasible. We have demonstrated that it is possible. Government, industry and society at large must now join forces to ensure that we quickly gain access to a continuous supply of biofuel.”

Foto: KLM / Allard de Witte

KLM founded SkyEnergy together with North Sea Petroleum and Spring Associates.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) will advise the consortium in relation to ecological aspects.

The development of biokerosene is a quest that KLM is pursuing in accordance with strict financial, technological and ecological criteria.

Foto: KLM / Allard de Witte

“The food chain may not be jeopardised, and production of biokerosene should not go hand in hand with deforestation or excessive water consumption,” said Mr Hartman, adding:
“The conservation of biodiversity is, of course, also a precondition. Our cooperation with WWF is both important and inspirational.”

Foto: KLM / Allard de Witte

Johan van de Gronden, director of WWF The Netherlands:
“The establishment of SkyEnergy is a groundbreaking initiative. KLM’s demonstration flight serves as a concrete step towards achieving a more sustainable future. We still have a long way to go in relation to biofuels for aviation, but by investing in this manner KLM is once again taking the lead.”
“KLM has been involved in biokerosene research since 2007. With the establishment of SkyEnergy, we are accelerating development and hope to achieve a market breakthrough. Within the consortium, we have clustered expertise and experience in legislation, ecology and technology, as well as the ability to develop biokerosene in an economically viable manner. We are moving forward with great resolve, but cannot do it alone. We need the efforts and support of government, industry and broader society.”

Foto: KLM / Allard de Witte

KLM and Air France are jointly pursuing an ambitious Climate Action Plan.
The fruits of this endeavour are exemplified by the fact that Air France KLM has been the sector leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for five consecutive years.


For more information, please contact:

KLM Media Relations at: +31(0)20–6494545

AMS/DR/JV

http://corporate.klm.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/archive-2009/klm-takes-strides-in-sustainable-air-transport  

KLM to make demonstration flight on bio-fuel

AMSTELVEEN, 04 November 2009

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will be the first airline in the world to make a demonstration flight on bio-kerosene with a select group of passengers.
This will also be the first ever flight in Europe on bio-kerosene.

On 23 November 2009, KLM will operate a flight using Boeing 747 equipment.
One of the aircraft engines will be running on a fuel mixture made up of 50% sustainable bio-fuel and 50% traditional kerosene.

“This is an important step on the road to completely sustainable aviation,” said KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman.
“KLM has joined forces with its partners to vigorously stimulate the further development of alternative fuels. In so doing, we need to rely on the input and support of all the relevant parties: the business community, government and society at large.’’

Foto: KLM / Allard de Witte

Along with Air France, KLM has for many years led the airline industry in the field of sustainable development.
For example, Air France-KLM this year topped the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the fifth consecutive time.
The Dutch wing of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (Wereld Natuurfonds – WNF) also voted KLM its Business Partner of the year for 2009.

“In the decades ahead, the airline industry will be largely dependent on the availability of alternative fuels in its drive to lower CO2 emissions,” said KLM Managing Director Jan Ernst de Groot, who will present the plans on Wednesday afternoon at the 2009 National Innovation Relay at Valkenburg Airbase.


For more information, please contact:

KLM Media Relations at: +31(0)20-6494545

http://corporate.klm.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/archive-2009/klm-to-make-demonstration-flight-on-bio-fuel  



Media representatives can contact Ingrid Klein and Harriët Veltman, assistant at KLM Media Relations.
Interim press officer: Monique Matze


KLM
Corporate Communications
Media Relations (AMS/DR)
PO Box 7700
1117 ZL Schiphol Airport
The Netherlands

Tel.: +31 (0)20 649 45 45
Fax: +31 (0)20 648 80 92
E-mail: mediarelations@klm.com

http://corporate.klm.com/en/newsroom/team-media-relations1