The first transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is scheduled to take off on Tuesday, 28th November 2023.
UK Government funded project
The flight is operated by Virgin Atlantic and will fly from London’s Heathrow to New York’s JFK airport. The flight is part of a UK government-funded project to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of using SAF as an alternative to conventional jet fuel. SAF can reduce carbon emissions by over 70% compared to fossil jet fuel.
The flight will also use biochar credits to offset any remaining emissions and achieve net zero.
Support
The flight is supported by a consortium of companies, including Boeing, Rolls-Royce, BP, Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, Rocky Mountain Institute, and ICF. The transatlantic flight has received a permit to fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, after undergoing technical assessments and ground testing.
The flight will use a Boeing 787 Dreamliner powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The SAF used will be made primarily from waste oils and fats, such as used cooking oil.
The flight is expected to be a historic milestone for the aviation industry, as it will showcase the potential of SAF to decarbonise aviation and create a greener future. SAF could also create a UK industry with an annual turnover of £2.4 billion by 2040 and support up to 5,200 UK jobs by 2035.
First transatlantic flight to use 100% SAF
The flight is not the first transatlantic flight to use SAF, but it is the first to use 100% SAF. In 2019, Gulfstream flew a G600 aircraft from Georgia to the UK using a 30/70 blend of SAF and jet fuel.
The Virgin Atlantic flight will be the first to use pure SAF on a commercial airliner.
Update 29th November 2023 – History made
The first transatlantic flight by a large passenger aeroplane, fueled by ‘greener fuel’ was a success. Operated by Virgin Atlantic, it flew from London’s Heathrow to New York’s JFK airport.