Virgin Atlantic’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) transatlantic flight will take off on November 28 from London Heathrow, heading for New York JFK.
Virgin Atlantic CEO, Shai Weiss, said: “The 100% SAF transatlantic flight will be a historic moment in aviation’s roadmap to decarbonisation. Alongside fleet transformation, SAF is the most readily available way for our industry to decarbonise, but currently there’s not enough supply and without it and the radical collaboration required to produce it, we can’t meet our 2030 targets.”
The 60 tonnes of SAF for the testing and the flight from fuel providers Air BP and Virent will consist of 88% hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids, and 12% synthetic aromatic kerosene.
The project is a stepping stone to the UK aviation industry’s goal to reach 10% SAF by 2030. Currently, SAF represents less than 0,1% of jet fuel volumes while fuel standards allow for a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines.
The flight will be undertaken through collaborative efforts. The Virgin Atlantic-led consortium, jointly funded by the UK Department for Transport, comprises Rolls Royce, Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and clean energy non-profit organisation the Rocky Mountain Institute.
