Virgin Atlantic lands first transatlantic commercial flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel

Virgin Atlantic sustainable fuel flight overview: 

• Who: Virgin Atlantic partnered with several companies to operate a transatlantic flight demonstrating how an airline can fly using 100% sustainable aviation fuel. 
• Why: Engines used in commercial airlines are not certified to fly on more than 50% sustainable aviation fuel; however, those in the industry hope to cut costs and reduce emissions. 
• Where: The demonstration flight took off from London and landed in New York. 

A commercial jet operated by Virgin Atlantic using 100% sustainable aviation fuel completed a transatlantic flight from London to New York on Nov. 28. 

The flight, which carried Virgin Atlantic billionaire founder Richard Branson and several others, was meant to demonstrate the potential of low-carbon options for fuel in the aviation industry, Reuters reports. 

“It’s going to take a while before we can get enough fuel where everybody’s going to be able to fly. But you’ve got to start somewhere,” Branson said in London prior to takeoff, according to Reuters. 

Low-carbon fuel options represent only a small portion of the airline industry’s fuel mix, with airlines reportedly hoping that, going forward, they can use fuel made from waste to reduce emissions by as much as 70%. 

Large-scale production of sustainable aviation fuel is difficult; however, on account of high costs and a limited supply of materials, with carbon-friendly fuel costing three to five times as much as conventional jet fuel, Reuters reports. 

Commercial jet engines not certified to use more than 50% sustainable aviation fuel 

Sustainable aviation fuel reportedly makes up less than 0.1% of the total amount of jet fuel used by airlines across the globe today, while the industry as a whole accounts for an estimated 2% to 3% of global carbon emissions, Reuters reports. 

In addition to challenges with cost and supply, engines used by commercial airline jets are not certified to use more than 50% of sustainable aviation fuel, with most airlines opting to blend in a much lower amount.

Virgin Atlantic partnered with Rolls Royce, Boeing, BP and others for the demonstration flight, with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Canadian and UK regulators giving the group permission to fly with 100% sustainable aviation fuel, following successful ground tests. 

The flight took off from London’s Heathrow Airport while carrying Branson, Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss and Britain’s Transport Minister Mark Harper and landed 35 minutes early at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, Reuters reports. 

In other airline-related news, a consumer filed a class action lawsuit against United Airlines last month, arguing the airlines made false and misleading claims about the environmental benefits of the biofuel it uses and charges travelers a premium for. 

What are your thoughts on airlines using sustainable aviation fuel? Let us know in the comments.

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