Airplane: Soon a transatlantic flight powered by recycled oil!

Virgin Atlantic is preparing to take off one of its Boeing 787s from London to New York using exclusively “sustainable” fuel.

Virgin Atlantic received funding from the UK government for this flight. The aim of this flight is to demonstrate how SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) could replace kerosene. It will work with several companies, including Rolls-Royce, to implement this project. By fully replacing kerosene, SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by over 70%.

Cooking Oil-Based Fuel

The Virgin Atlantic flight is expected to be powered mainly by SAF produced from used oils and fats. Using 100% SAF on the flight, combined with carbon offsetting through biochar credits (a material that stores atmospheric carbon), will make the flight much less polluting.

Additionally, this fuel will play a key role in the decarbonization of aviation. It could also create a UK industry with an estimated annual turnover of several billion pounds by 2040. This fuel could support up to 5,200 jobs in the UK by 2035.

A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 Dreamliner

“We are proud to lead a cross-sector partnership consortium to make aviation history. All while operating the very first 100% SAF flight across the Atlantic,” said Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic. “Research and results will mark an important step in accelerating the use of SAF in the aerospace industry. They will support the investment, collaboration, and urgency needed to produce SAF on a large scale. It is part of our collective ambition to reach zero emissions by 2050,” he concludes.

aviation is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize. Without urgent action, it could become one of the highest greenhouse gas-emitting sectors in 2050. Virgin Atlantic has long committed to ensuring a transition to a more sustainable future. In 2018, Virgin Atlantic conducted the very first commercial flight using LanzaTech’s sustainable jet fuel.

Read also: How Air New Zealand Plans to Decarbonize Its Flights by 2026