Virgin Atlantic on Tuesday will operate the world’s first transatlantic flight powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).\u00a0<\/p>\n
The flight, called Flight100, will be operated with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner using Rolls-Royce Treen 1000 engines.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The demonstration flight from London to New York is geared toward proving the capability of SAF as a safe drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel, compatible with today’s engines, airframes and fuel infrastructure, Virgin Atlantic said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Currently, global fuel standards allow for only a 50% blend of SAF on any particular flight. The fuel being used on the Virgin Atlantic flight can reduce emissions by up to 70% compared with conventional, kerosene-based jet fuel, the airline said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss called Virgin’s SAF “the only viable solution for decarbonizing long-haul aviation.”<\/p>\n
“It’s taken radical collaboration to get here, and we’re proud to have reached this important milestone, but we need to push further,” he said.<\/p>\n
The landmark flight follows another significant development in aviation decarbonization. Last week, the International Civil Aviation Organization agreed to target a 5% reduction of flying’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. ICAO is the aviation arm of the United Nations.<\/p>\n
Along with setting the new target, ICAO has laid out a framework aimed at ratcheting up development of SAF, which is considered the most immediate method to substantially reduce aircraft emissions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The framework calls on countries to enhance their outreach about SAF with global finance and to support SAF production in developing countries by working for access to low-cost financing. The resolution also broaches the possibility of providing direct financial support to developing countries.<\/p>\n
The new ICAO commitment followed the goal set by its global membership last year to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in aviation by 2050.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So far, SAF production is less than 0.1% of what the airline industry needs to achieve net zero, IATA estimated in June. However, SAF production tripled in 2022 and a continued production ramp-up is anticipated.<\/p>\n