Reuters's Sarah Young and Joanna Plucinska are reporting on Virgin Atlantic's 100% sustainable fuel flight.
A Virgin Atlantic jet powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) completed a milestone London-to-New York flight, showcasing the potential of low-carbon fuel options in aviation. This flight, carrying Virgin's founder Richard Branson and a few others, is the first commercial long-haul journey using 100% SAF, made primarily from used cooking oil, waste animal fat, and synthetic kerosene. Despite the success, SAF faces challenges like high costs, limited supply, and current aircraft engines not being fully certified for 100% SAF use. The industry aims to increase SAF use to decarbonize aviation, with many European airlines targeting 10% SAF usage by 2030 and a net-zero emissions goal by 2050. However, high costs and limited availability pose significant challenges to these targets. Critics like the environmental group Stay Grounded call the flight a "greenwashing distraction," emphasizing the need to reduce flights and fossil jet fuel use. The flight's success highlights the need for government support in making SAF more accessible and affordable for widespread adoption in the industry.
A Virgin Atlantic jet powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) completed a milestone London-to-New York flight, showcasing the potential of low-carbon fuel options in aviation. This flight, carrying Virgin's founder Richard Branson and a few others, is the first commercial long-haul journey using 100% SAF, made primarily from used cooking oil, waste animal fat, and synthetic kerosene. Despite the success, SAF faces challenges like high costs, limited supply, and current aircraft engines not being fully certified for 100% SAF use. The industry aims to increase SAF use to decarbonize aviation, with many European airlines targeting 10% SAF usage by 2030 and a net-zero emissions goal by 2050. However, high costs and limited availability pose significant challenges to these targets. Critics like the environmental group Stay Grounded call the flight a "greenwashing distraction," emphasizing the need to reduce flights and fossil jet fuel use. The flight's success highlights the need for government support in making SAF more accessible and affordable for widespread adoption in the industry.
Source: Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/virgin-atlantic-jet-lift-off-maiden-transatlantic-flight-low-carbon-fuel-2023-11-28/
(This article was written with assistance from ChatGPT)
