Virgin Airlines to Fly First Net-Zero Transatlantic Boeing 787 in 2023

Virgin Atlantic is planning to operate a Boeing 787 from London to New York that is completely powered by waste oil and fats. The ‘net-zero’ flight will be a huge step for the aviation industry as they work toward reducing emissions.

Source: Global Update/YouTube

The flight is being called the “world’s first” net zero transatlantic flight and is set to hit the skies in 2023.

The plane will be powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel or SAF. It is an alternative to fossil fuels and uses ingredients like cooking oils and agricultural leftovers to cut back on waste and cut carbon emissions. SAF can cut carbon emissions by an average of 80%, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Virgin Atlantic CEO Shari Weiss said in a statement that the 2023 flight “will be a huge step in fast-tracking SAF use across the aviation industry and Support the investment, collaboration, and urgency needed to produce SAF at scale.”

The UK government contributed funds for the project and said that the flight will be net zero in terms of carbon output due to the SAF. It will offset any emissions through “biochar credits” or payments that Support the use of an energy process to safely store carbon.

Although Virgin Atlantic has not confirmed when the flight will take place, we can expect to hear about it sometime next year.

New research has shown that by replacing petroleum-based aviation fuel with plant-derived fuel, carbon emissions could be reduced by 68 percent.

Other companies are working on SAF as well, including Finnish company Neste, which is set to be the world’s largest provider of renewable fuels. There’s also World Energy which is the leader in the production of low-carbon fuels in the United States. They are currently the only commercial-scale SAF production facility. Alder Fuels is also creating SAF by converting forest and crop waste into crude oil that can be used to produce aviation fuel.

This plant-sourced fuel could be the answer to greatly reducing carbon emissions when it comes to flying, which will make traveling more eco-friendly.

Related Content:

• Sustainable Plant Aviation Fuel Could Reduce Emissions by 68%
• United Airlines and the Rise of Advanced Biofuels
• Bill Gates Company Gives $50 Million to Make Sustainable Jet Fuel as Cheap as Fossil Fuel
• Boeing Shares Goal for its Airlines to Fly on 100% Biofuel by 2030
• How ‘Sustainable’ Universities Can Decrease the Carbon Footprint of Study Abroad Programs

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