Original article written by: Sarah Young and Joanna Plucinska
The sector has previously held demonstrations to show its desire to cut emissions and to request government cooperation. This flight is not the first time this has happened. In fact, the aircraft on Tuesday was carrying none other than Richard Branson, the wealthy creator of Virgin, and it is scheduled to return to London using regular jet fuel.
Airlines are counting on waste-derived fuel (SAF) to cut emissions by as much as 70%, but large-scale manufacturing of SAF is challenging due to its high cost and limited supply of raw materials. SAF is three to five times more expensive than ordinary jet fuel and makes up fewer than 1% of the jet fuel used worldwide today. This journey, on a Virgin Boeing 787 with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, marks the first long-haul flying on 100% SAF for a commercial airline. It carried no paid goods or passengers.
"Until we have enough gasoline for everyone to be able to fly, it will take some time. However, you have to start somewhere," Branson remarked in London prior to takeoff. Compared to vehicle travel, the aviation sector is more difficult to decarbonize, contributing an estimated 2-3% of global carbon emissions. Commercial engines are not yet authorized to operate on more than 50% SAF, and most flights mix a somewhat smaller percentage of SAF with regular jet fuel.