Virgin Atlantic will operate the world’s first transatlantic flight using 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) later this year, following completion of a successful ground test.
The project, first announced in December, will see the airline operate a Boeing 787 between London Heathrow and New York’s JFK airport powered entirely by SAF made primarily from waste oils and fats.
Following a successful ground test of the SAF blend using a Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, the inaugural flight is set to take off on 28 November 2023, pending further regulatory approvals and testing.
Virgin last year won a UK government competition to receive up to £1 million in funding to undertake the “pioneering” test flight, which is in partnership with Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, Rocky Mountain Institute and ICF. The 60 tonnes of SAF used to power the flight will be provided by Air bp and Virent.
In a statement, the UK long-haul carrier said the one-off flight in November will be “a historic moment” and will demonstrate the potential of SAF as “a 100 per cent drop-in replacement for fossil fuel”.
Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss described SAF as “the most readily available way for our industry to decarbonise” but insisted more collaboration is needed to produce SAF at scale.
“We need UK government support to create a UK SAF industry to allow for every single flight out of the UK to operate with 100 per cent SAF – if we make it, we can fly it,” he said.
Weiss had previously warned that the UK is in danger of ‘falling behind’ on SAF production and called for the government to provide “clarity of legislation” to encourage investment in UK-based SAF plants.
Aviation minister Baroness Vere said that “thanks to government funding” the test flight will be “a huge step towards net zero and showcase the potential of SAF – creating jobs and helping to grow our economy”.