Today one of the world's youngest fleets, will trial a new environmental programme as it executes the world's longest green journey and the world's first cross-polar green flight.

Emirates' inaugural flight on new San Francisco - Dubai route demonstrates best environmental practices to save fuel and emissions

The programme will be introduced on the airline's first flight from Dubai to San Francisco.

Appropriately hailed as the Emvironment flight, Emirates is working closely with government agencies in Dubai, Russia, Canada and the United States to plot the most environmentally-sophisticated  trip possible to save fuel and carbon emissions on the 16-hour non-stop service.

The airline will use the new ultra eco-efficient Boeing 777-200LR to service the San Francisco-Dubai route as part of the airline's multi-billion dollar investment in economic and environmental efficiencies.  The direct route at San Francisco International Airport will create a critical connection between the Bay Area and Dubai, a growing destination for business and tourism.

"After months of planning, Emirates' Emvironment flight is a best-practice trial of how airlines, governments, manufacturers, technology providers and airports can work together to be as eco-efficient as possible," said  HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

"The San Francisco inaugural flight will be a dual milestone of commencing services between two great cities and also demonstrating the best our industry can offer in environmental efficiency. We have made a multi-billion-dollar investment in new state-of-the-art eco-efficient aircraft and the flight will help us to further improve our environmental performance."

To ensure a more fuel-efficient route,  the flight will utilise new corridors of Russian airspace -  this special accommodation followed negotiations and was thanks to the support of the Russian Government.  The EK225 Emvironment flight will depart Dubai at 8:55 a.m.on 15th December and land in San Francisco at 1 p.m. local time the same day.

The inaugural green flight will demonstrate multiple fuel and emission-saving measures including:

• The new 777-200LR will be specially washed beforehand to minimize drag
• The aircraft will use electrical power on the ground in Dubai rather than running its auxiliary power unit
• Dubai Air Traffic Control will give the aircraft priority clearance for both taxiing and departure
• A pre-planned priority departure route out of Dubai will provide an unimpeded climb through to cruise altitude, allowing the aircraft to reach its optimum cruise altitude as quickly and efficiently as possible
• Recent Emirates negotiations with the Russian Government will allow for a preferred route over Russian and Canadian airspace for the most efficient path, taking into account prevailing winds and the aircraft's weight
  Real time updates of current weather and wind conditions to allow the flight crew to modify their flight path on route
• The aircraft will track close to the North Pole following extensive work by Emirates and aircraft manufacturers to open this new routing
• Flexible routings will be pursued over Canadian airspace
• The FAA and San Francisco Air Traffic Control will seek to offer optimal routings for arrival and if possible a continuous descent approach to minimize fuel burn
• The aircraft will use minimal thrust on landing and single-engine taxi to its gate
• All on board glass, newspapers, aluminium and paper will be collected for recycling

"Emirates is seeking to reduce the environmental impact of our operations wherever we can and our Emvironment inaugural flight to San Francisco is a perfect example of these ambitions," said Sheikh Ahmed.  " The longest green flight efforts gives us the opportunity to trial measures that make a real difference to eco-efficiency, and we will take back learnings that will help us continue improving on our operations."

He added: "With the introduction of our new 777 family, our 58 ultra-efficient A380s and new A350-XWBs aircraft, Emirates will operate the world's most efficient fleet of wide-bodied aircraft. The development of new technologies, flight operation procedures and advanced air traffic management proves that our industry is making real gains in environmental performance."