Air France-KLM is using new lightweight cargo nets that will cut carbon dioxide emissions and kerosene use, according to the company. One lightweight net will save Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo more than 210 gallons of kerosene fuel per year. That
means CO₂ emissions will be more than 2.5 tonnes less per net per year, it said.

It is the first major airline group to replace all cargo nets, normally made in polyester (PET) fibre, with lightweight nets made with an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMwPE) produced by DSM Dyneema, branded as Dyneema^®.

The new nets weigh about 9kg, half as much as traditional nets in PET fibre, said DSM Dyneema.

Produced by AmSafe Bridport, world leader in aviation restraint technology, the nets will in future be used on all aircraft operated by Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo, the dedicated air cargo business of the Air France-KLM Group.

On July 9, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, the first nets made with Dyneema^® were formally handed over to Camiel Eurlings, CEO of KLM, by Atzo Nicolaï, president Netherland of DSM and Ian Kentfield, president of AmSafe Bridport.

As well as fuel and emission savings, operatives will be able to handle the nets more easily and safely and because they are more damage-resistant than polyester nets and they require about half as much maintenance, according to DSM Dyneema.