The first commercial airliner to make a fossil-fuel-free transatlantic crossing from London to New York has successfully flown, marking a significant step toward achieving more sustainable air travel. The Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 flight, which was powered by a high-fat, low-emissions fuel made from sustainable aviation fuel derived from waste fats, demonstrated the feasibility of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation industry. While governments have long sought to decarbonize air travel, the transition has faced numerous challenges. However, sustainable aviation fuel, which can reduce emissions by about 70%, is considered the best short-term solution for the industry to achieve its net zero target by 2050. Despite the successful flight, there is still a long way to go in terms of making this fuel widely available and increasing production volumes.
Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic, emphasized the importance of pushing the boundaries and proving that seemingly impossible tasks can be accomplished. He joined corporate and government officials, engineers, and journalists on the historic flight. The U.K. Transport Department contributed £1 million ($1.27 million) to support the planning and operation of the flight, viewing it as a significant milestone toward achieving jet zero and making air travel more environmentally friendly.
While sustainable aviation fuel has shown promise, its production and availability remain limited. In the United States, where the fuel’s production has increased from 2 million gallons in 2016 to 15.8 million gallons in 2022, it still represents less than 0.1% of the jet fuel used by major airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration set a goal of producing 1 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel annually, highlighting the industry’s ambition for widespread adoption. The U.S. Energy Department has identified sustainable aviation fuel as the best option to achieve the international aviation industry’s net zero goal, even though it acknowledged that the target is aspirational.
The White House has also set its sights on sustainability in aviation, aiming to produce 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel per year by 2030 and achieve 100% domestic commercial jet fuel made from sustainable sources by 2050. Similarly, the U.K. has set a target of sourcing 10% of jet fuel from sustainable sources by 2030. Holly Boyd-Boland, the vice president of corporate development at Virgin Atlantic, stated that while the flight demonstrated the capability of the fuel to power existing aircraft, the primary challenge lies in scaling up production. She emphasized the need to produce enough sustainable aviation fuel to enable daily flights.
Despite the achievements and the potential of sustainable aviation fuel, critics argue that the aviation industry is overstating its impact on carbon emissions. The Aviation Environment Federation highlighted the limited global proportion of sustainable aviation fuel, which currently stands at approximately 0.1%. They expressed skepticism about the industry’s ability to scale up sustainably. Despite these concerns, the successful transatlantic flight using sustainable aviation fuel represents a significant milestone, albeit not the first jet to accomplish this feat. Gulfstream Aerospace achieved the first all-sustainable journey earlier this month with a business jet, while Air France-KLM completed a similar flight two years ago using a blend of petroleum-based jet fuel and a synthetic fuel derived from waste cooking oils.
In conclusion, the recent historic flight from London to New York aboard a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 powered by sustainable aviation fuel marks a crucial step toward achieving more sustainable air travel. While challenges remain in terms of scaling up production and making the fuel widely available, the successful journey demonstrates the potential of sustainable solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation industry. Achieving the industry’s net zero target by 2050 will require significant progress in the production and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel.
