NEWS
Virgin Flies World’s First 100% SAF Transatlantic Flight
Source: Virgin Atlantic
A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787s took off for a flight from London Heathrow to JFK International Airport, New York, on Tuesday, 28 November 2023, powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It’s the first time a commercial airline has flown across the pond without using fossil-based jet fuel.
Although the plane wasn’t carrying any paid passengers, Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson was on board, along with Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive Shai Weiss and UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper.
“Today’s historic flight, powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel, shows how we can both decarbonise transport and enable passengers to keep flying when and where they want,” Harper said. “SAF will become an increasing part of the standard jet fuel mix, driven by our upcoming SAF mandate, with at least 10% of jet fuel being from sustainable sources in 2030. This will mean that business or leisure travellers can fly knowing their carbon footprint will be lower than ever before.”
“The world will always assume something can’t be done, until you do it. The spirit of innovation is getting out there and trying to prove that we can do things better for everyone’s benefit,” Sir Richard Branson said. “Virgin Atlantic has been challenging the status quo and pushing the aviation industry to never settle and do better since 1984.”
“I couldn’t be prouder to be onboard Flight100 today alongside the teams at Virgin Atlantic and our partners, which have been working together to set the flight path for the decarbonisation of long-haul aviation.”
