Global sustainability challenge flies into Edmonton International Airport

KLM stages special flight to highlight greener aviation processes

Edmonton International Airport (EIA) has been chosen by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines as the host airport for a unique long-haul flight designed to further initiatives towards sustainability in the aviation industry.

KLM Flight 675 landed at EIA Saturday afternoon after flying non-stop from Amsterdam. The flight is KLM’s long-haul entry in The Sustainable Flight Challenge, presented by SkyTeam. The competition includes 16 member airlines all competing to stage the most sustainable flight possible. The friendly competition is about sharing best practices and helping the industry focus on the global climate crisis and the role aviation plays. EIA was chosen as the flight’s destination out of KLM’s many global destinations based on the airport’s commitment to environmental practices and its many initiatives in this area, such as our co-generation power facility, commitment to hydrogen development, signing The Climate Pledge, and the upcoming Airport City Solar.

As part of the flight’s celebration, a sustainability Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between KLM and EIA to collaborate further on sustainability in aviation.

“Edmonton International Airport’s commitment to sustainability guides our work in so many ways. We are dedicated to partnering with organizations that share our ESG values to safeguard our planet for future generations. We’re proud that KLM recognizes our sustainability work and has chosen Edmonton as the destination for this long-haul sustainability flight challenge. KLM’s commitment to sustainability is an inspiration for our industry. Reducing our emissions and addressing the climate crisis is work we can only accomplish together. We welcome KLM’s flight as part of “The Sustainable Flight Challenge” presented by SkyTeam and we look forward to collaborating further on sustainability in aviation.”

– Tom Ruth, President and CEO, Edmonton International Airport

“In 2019, KLM reached out to the industry with our Fly Responsibly initiative, in which we urged stakeholders to join forces and share best practices to make flying more sustainable. During the pandemic, KLM stepped up the pace and developed ten bold moves in the field of sustainability, including the Sustainable Flight Challenge which has now become reality. Everyone at KLM has worked extremely hard to make this flight as sustainable as possible. The beauty of the Challenge is that it has fired up the enthusiasm of our people, inspiring them to come up with fresh ideas directed at achieving the best results. But what I also find encouraging is that the participating airlines are sharing lessons learned and that both our customers and partners, including engine manufacturers and SAF producers, are involved. The Challenge only has winners, because our cooperation makes improvements in sustainability both possible and achievable. I’m happy and proud to have been on this special flight, to see the enthusiasm of our KLM teams and partners, and to experience the outstanding spirit of cooperation here in Edmonton. It is a wonderful example of how we can work together to improve sustainability and support one another in the process. KLM and Edmonton share a vision and are equally ambitious and determined in their commitment to achieving greater sustainability.”

– Pieter Elbers, KLM President & CEO

“On our path to becoming a resilient city, the City of Edmonton is proud to work together with partners from both our local and global communities to address climate challenges. We are honoured to have KLM choose Edmonton as its destination in the Sustainability Challenge and welcome their recognition of the work that the City of Edmonton and Edmonton International Airport is doing to commit to building a more sustainable future for all of us. Congratulations to the teams from EIA and KLM on this historic flight!”

– Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, City of Edmonton

Some of the steps taken by KLM to make the flight as sustainable as possible include:

• Working with air traffic controllers to fly the most efficient route, avoiding the detours that flights often face, in conjunction with Nav Canada and EIA
• Operating on the most economical aircraft, the Boeing 787-10, and powered by a fuel blend consisting of 39% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
• Using lightweight and sustainable materials in loading cargo, including netting and pallets designed to be lighter
• Using only digital products for information, not paper and using as little plastic as possible
• Passengers were asked to select their meals ahead of the travel to reduce waste and weight and water consumption was modelled by AI to determine the optimal amount to bring on board
• Over 50 initiatives to improve the flight, across all divisions of KLM and with multiple partners, including EIA

Steps EIA has taken to support the flight:

• Facilitating the most efficient flight path with Nav Canada to save on fuel
• Electric ground service equipment for turnaround handling of the flight including EIA’s electric ground power unit and electric baggage tugs from Swissport (transported to EIA by Rosenau Transport)
• All cargo warehouse lights changed to LEDs and overhead cargo warehouse doors closed within 30 seconds to retain heat with BBE Expediting
• Use of sustainable 100% biodegradable plastic wrap for cargo from BioNatur Plastics
• Use of electric forklift for cargo handling from Executive Flight Centre
• Zero-emission electric cargo van to transport supplies and support with movement of freight from Machool Logistics

Arriving in Edmonton on the flight was the President and CEO of KLM Pieter Elbers, marking his first visit to the region. As part of the celebration around the flight, EIA and his Worship Mayor Sohi are hosting Mr. Elbers and other officials from Europe for a special reception to highlight opportunities in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region for tourists and business travelers. The event has been designed with a focus on EIA’s Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) approach to doing business. Sustainable evening reception features include:

• Public transportation from EIA on a City of Edmonton electric bus
• Special indigenous representation (blessing by local Elder) and entertainment (Warrior Women)
• Locally sourced vegetarian low-carbon impact reception menu curated by The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald and Pei Pei Chei Ow
• Carbon neutral event through Explore Edmonton Offsetters’ Program and Wild+Pine Sustainability offset
• All centrepieces, decorations, and name tags will be reused
• Plant Plus Straws made from agriculture by-products provided by an EIA tenant and partner offering an innovative, dedicated, and mindful source for eco-friendly packaging
• TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Boxes ensure everything can be recycled – even hard-to-process items.
• Each guest will have a tree planted for them by Wild+Pine Sustainability, a tenant and EIA partner in reforestation
• Using digital signage to reduce plastic and paper consumption

For more information on EIA’s sustainability work visit flyeia.com/klm-sustainability.