Virgin Atlantic flies world’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Gas flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK.
Virgin Atlantic’s historic flight on 100% Sustainable Aviation Gas (SAF) takes off from London Heathrow to New York JFK, marking the end result of a yr of radical collaboration, to show the potential of SAF as a protected drop-in substitute for fossil-derived jet gas, suitable with at the moment’s engines, airframes and gas infrastructure.
SAF has a big function to play within the decarbonization of long-haul aviation, and pathway to Web Zero 2050. The gas, constituted of waste merchandise, delivers CO2 lifecycle emissions financial savings of as much as 70%, while performing like the normal jet gas it replaces.
Whereas different applied sciences corresponding to electrical and hydrogen stay many years away, SAF can be utilized now. As we speak, SAF represents lower than 0.1% of world jet gas volumes and gas requirements permit for only a 50% SAF mix in industrial jet engines. Flight100 will show that the problem of scaling up manufacturing is one in all coverage and funding, and business and authorities should transfer shortly to create a thriving UK SAF business.
In addition to proving the capabilities of SAF, Flight100 will assess how its use impacts the flight’s non-carbon emissions with the assist of consortium companions ICF, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Imperial School London and College of Sheffield. The analysis will enhance scientific understanding of the consequences of SAF on contrails and particulates and assist to implement contrail forecasts within the flight planning course of. Information and analysis shall be shared with business, and Virgin Atlantic will proceed its involvement with contrail work by way of RMI’s Local weather Influence Job Drive, which is part-funded by Virgin Unite.
The SAF used on Flight100 is a novel twin mix; 88% HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) provided by AirBP and 12% SAK (Artificial Fragrant Kerosene) provided by Virent, a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Company. The HEFA is constituted of waste fat whereas the SAK is constituted of plant sugars, with the rest of plant proteins, oil and fibres persevering with into the meals chain. SAK is required in 100% SAF blends to provide the gas the required aromatics for engine perform. To realize Web Zero 2050, the innovation and funding wanted throughout all accessible feedstocks and applied sciences should be harnessed to maximise SAF volumes in addition to persevering with the analysis and improvement wanted to deliver new zero emission plane to market.
Virgin Atlantic is dedicated to discovering extra sustainable methods to fly, on its flightpath to Web Zero 2050, taking motion throughout each a part of the journey. Already working one of many youngest and most gas and carbon environment friendly fleets within the sky, Flight100 builds on the airline’s 15-year observe file for main on improvement of SAF at scale. Collectively, business and authorities should go additional, to create a UK SAF business and meet aviation’s 10% SAF by 2030 goal, capitalizing on the numerous social and financial advantages it’ll deliver – an estimated contribution of £1.8 billion in Gross Worth Added to the UK and greater than 10,000 jobs.
The airline acknowledged the SAF Grand Problem President Biden set in 2021 for the US, promising the adoption of three billion gallons of SAF by 2030. Alongside the Inflation Discount Act, the US authorities’s commitments to stimulate personal funding into the US SAF business reinforce the significance of shut collaboration inside the business and globally to attain emissions reductions targets.
Shai Weiss, Chief Government Officer, Virgin Atlantic stated:
Flight100 proves that Sustainable Aviation Gas can be utilized as a protected, drop-in substitute for fossil-derived jet gas and it’s the one viable resolution for decarbonizing long-haul aviation.
“It’s taken radical collaboration to get right here and we’re proud to have reached this essential milestone, however we have to push additional. There’s merely not sufficient SAF and it’s clear that to be able to attain manufacturing at scale, we have to see considerably extra funding. This may solely occur when regulatory certainty and value assist mechanisms, backed by authorities, are in place. Flight100 proves that should you make it, we’ll fly it.”
Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Atlantic stated:
The world will all the time assume one thing can’t be accomplished, till you do it.
“The spirit of innovation is getting on the market and making an attempt to show that we will do issues higher for everybody’s profit.
“Virgin Atlantic has been difficult the established order and pushing the aviation business to by no means settle and do higher since 1984. Quick ahead almost 40 years, that pioneering spirit continues to be Virgin Atlantic’s beating coronary heart because it pushes the boundaries from carbon fibre plane and fleet upgrades to sustainable fuels.”
“I couldn’t be prouder to be onboard Flight100 at the moment alongside the groups at Virgin Atlantic and our companions, which have been working collectively to set the flight path for the decarbonization of long-haul aviation.”
Mark Harper, UK Transport Secretary stated:
As we speak’s historic flight, powered by 100% sustainable aviation gas, reveals how we will each decarbonize transport and allow passengers to maintain flying when and the place they need.
“This Authorities has backed at the moment’s flight to take-off and we’ll proceed to assist the UK’s rising SAF business because it creates jobs, grows the economic system and will get us to Jet Zero.”
Dame Karen Pierce, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the USA stated:
This world first marks an important step within the UK’s journey in the direction of Jet Zero aviation emissions.
“We look ahead to persevering with our shut work alongside the US to extend the usage of this pioneering gas as we welcome the sustainable flights of the long run.”
Rick Cotton,Government Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey stated:
As a part of our agencywide aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the Port Authority strongly encourages and helps efforts by our airport stakeholders to scale back their carbon footprint and to scale back greenhouse fuel emissions.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the primary transatlantic flight utilizing 100% sustainable aviation gas into John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport and hope that the success of Virgin Atlantic’s flight to New York will encourage your entire airport neighborhood to maneuver ahead with aggressive sustainability efforts.”
Sheila Remes, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability, Boeing stated:
In 2008 Virgin Atlantic and Boeing accomplished the primary industrial SAF take a look at flight on a 747 and at the moment we’ll accomplish yet one more vital milestone using a 787 Dreamliner.
“This flight is a key step towards our dedication to ship 100% SAF-compatible airplanes by 2030. As we work towards the civil aviation business’s net-zero aim, at the moment’s historic journey highlights what we will obtain collectively.”
Simon Burr, Group Director of Engineering, Expertise & Security, Rolls-Royce plc, stated:
We’re extremely proud that our Trent 1000 engines are powering the primary ever widebody flight utilizing 100% Sustainable Aviation Gas throughout the Atlantic at the moment.
“Rolls-Royce has not too long ago accomplished compatibility testing of 100% SAF on all our in-production civil aero engine varieties and that is additional proof that there are not any engine know-how obstacles to the usage of 100% SAF. The flight represents a serious milestone for your entire aviation business in its journey in the direction of internet zero carbon emissions.”
About Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic was based by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and superb customer support at its core. In 2023, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain’s solely International 5 Star Airline by APEX for the seventh yr working within the Official Airline Scores. Headquartered in London, it employs greater than 7,500 individuals worldwide, flying clients to 30 locations throughout 4 continents all year long.
Alongside shareholder and Joint Enterprise associate Delta Air Strains, Virgin Atlantic operates a number one transatlantic community, with onward connections to over 200 cities all over the world. In February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Strains and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Enterprise, providing a complete route community, handy flight schedules, aggressive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer advantages, together with the flexibility to earn and redeem miles throughout all carriers.
Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the worldwide airline alliance’s first and solely UK member airline, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic community and providers to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability management for greater than 15 years, committing to Web Zero by 2050 and steady motion that reduces environmental affect. The airline operates one of many youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets within the skies and has diminished its absolute carbon emissions by 35% during the last decade.
In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the primary of 16 A330-900neos to the fleet, persevering with its transformation in the direction of 100% subsequent technology plane by 2027. Later in 2023, Virgin Atlantic is main an business consortium to ship the primary 100% SAF flight throughout the transatlantic.
Demonstrating that 100% SAF can be utilized safely as a drop-in gas in present infrastructure, engines and airframes. The necessity to scale manufacturing is an business crucial and Virgin Atlantic is dedicated to radical collaboration throughout the vitality chain to assist commercialization forward of 2030.
Highlights:
- Flight100 proves Sustainable Aviation Gas (SAF) is a protected drop-in substitute for fossil-derived jet gas and the one viable mid-term resolution for decarbonizing long-haul aviation.
- The flight marks a world first on 100% SAF by a industrial airline throughout the Atlantic, flown on a Boeing 787, utilizing Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.
- Milestone made doable by way of yr of radical collaboration by a Virgin Atlantic-led consortium, together with Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Imperial School London, College of Sheffield, ICF and Rocky Mountain Institute, in partnership with the UK Division for Transport
- Imagery and video accessible right here
Virgin Atlantic flies world’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Gas flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK, NEW YORK, Nov. 28, 2023
