First Transatlantic Flight Powered By Sustainable Jet Fuel Takes Off In London

A Virgin Atlantic passenger jet powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) took off from London on a route to New York as the aviation industry attempted to demonstrate the promise of low-carbon choices to safeguard its future.

(Photo : Getty Images/Patrick Hamilton)

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The flight, which was operated by a Virgin Boeing 787 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, was the first time a commercial airliner flew a considerable distance on 100% SAF.

However, this is a demonstration flight with no paying passengers or cargo, and it will return to the UK using regular jet fuel.

Richard Branson, the millionaire creator of Virgin Atlantic, Shai Weiss, the airline's CEO, and Britain's transport minister Mark Harper are among those on board.

The Virgin Atlantic trip on Tuesday, which was partially funded by the UK government, was lauded by the aviation industry and ministers as proof of the ability to drastically reduce net carbon emissions from flying.

"Today's 100% SAF-powered flight shows how we can decarbonise transport both now and in the future, cutting lifecycle emissions by 70% and inspiring the next generation of solutions," Transport secretary Mark Harper said.

Virgin Atlantic stated that the flight to New York would demonstrate that SAF was a safe substitute for standard kerosene jet fuel.

Because SAF may be used in existing planes, airlines consider it a critical avenue for reducing net emissions. However, the fuel's availability is now less than one-thousandth of the total volume of jet fuel utilized globally.

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Challenges Of Using SAF

The aviation industry is viewed as extremely difficult to decarbonize, but airline executives see SAF as the single most effective option to achieve net zero emissions.

When utilizing SAF, planes still produce carbon, although the industry claims that the "lifecycle emissions" of these fuels can be reduced by up to 70%.

SAF is already utilized in limited amounts as a blend with standard jet fuel, however it accounts for less than 0.1% of global aviation fuel consumption.

It now costs more than kerosene and is produced in tiny quantities. Aircraft are often only permitted to use up to 50% of a blend.

There are no specialized commercial SAF plants in the UK, despite the government's goal of having five under development by 2025 with grant financing.

Airlines regard the first long-distance flight using 100% SAF as a great achievement. However, scientists caution that such fuels are not a panacea.

"We can't produce a majority of our fuel requirements this way because we just don't have the feedstocks. And even if you do, these fuels are not true 'net zeros'," said Dr. Guy Gratton, associate professor of aviation and the environment at Cranfield University.

He stated that the increasing adoption of SAF must be viewed as a "stepping stone toward future, truly net zero technologies."

The UK government also intends to require SAF in 10% of aviation fuel by 2030.

Airlines UK, which represents UK-registered carriers, stated that they must be able to acquire sufficient inexpensive SAF to meet such a need, with as much as feasible originating in the UK.

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