Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Virgin Atlantic has achieved a groundbreaking milestone with its historic flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from London Heathrow to New York JFK. This achievement marks the culmination of a year of collaborative efforts to showcase SAF as a safe alternative to fossil-derived jet fuel.
SAF plays a crucial role in the decarbonization of long-haul aviation and the pathway to Net Zero 2050. Made from waste products, SAF delivers CO2 lifecycle emissions savings of up to 70%, performing similarly to traditional jet fuel. While technologies like electric and hydrogen remain in the distant future, SAF is a viable solution available now.
Flight100, the historic flight, aims to demonstrate that scaling up SAF production is a matter of policy and investment. Currently representing less than 0.1% of global jet fuel volumes, SAF standards allow for just a 50% blend in commercial jet engines. Virgin Atlantic emphasizes the need for swift action from industry and government to create a thriving UK SAF industry.
The SAF used in Flight100 is a unique dual blend, consisting of 88% HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) supplied by AirBP and 12% SAK (Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene) supplied by Virent, a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation. This blend, comprising waste fats and plant sugars, showcases the innovation required across various feedstocks and technologies to achieve Net Zero 2050.
Virgin Atlantic, committed to sustainability, operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets globally. Flight100 builds on the airline’s 15-year track record of leading SAF development at scale. The airline urges collective industry and government efforts to create a UK SAF industry, meeting aviation’s 10% SAF target by 2030 and reaping significant social and economic benefits.
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, emphasizes the importance of regulatory certainty and price support mechanisms backed by the government to drive further investment in SAF production. He states, “Flight100 proves that if you make it, we’ll fly it.”
Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Atlantic, expresses pride in Virgin Atlantic’s pioneering spirit, pushing the boundaries for sustainable aviation since 1984. He notes the importance of ongoing innovation, from carbon fiber aircraft to sustainable fuels.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper highlights the government’s support for today’s SAF-powered flight, acknowledging its role in cutting lifecycle emissions and inspiring future solutions for decarbonizing transport.
The historic flight also receives acclaim from industry leaders, including Sheila Remes of Boeing, emphasizing the achievement as a step toward the industry’s net-zero goal, and Simon Burr of Rolls-Royce, proud that Trent 1000 engines power the first-ever widebody flight using 100% SAF across the Atlantic.
Monday, January 1, 2024
