A long-haul airline with its base in the UK will create history later this month when it launches the first-ever transatlantic trip using only sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The development follows the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) announcement earlier today that it had granted the carrier permission to do so.
A premier route for an exceptional journey
Based out of London Heathrow (LHR), Virgin Atlantic runs a vast long-haul network, with one of its primary routes being the transatlantic flight to New York JFK. The 100% SAF flight has been scheduled for November 28th, and this is the corridor that has been chosen. CAA CEO Rob Bishton stated:
"As the UK’s aviation regulator, it’s important that we safely enable the industry to embrace more sustainable practices and push the boundaries of what’s possible to create a greener aviation industry. This permit not only allows Virgin Atlantic and others to showcase their commitment to sustainability but also serves as an example of how the industry is always exploring new technologies."
One of the main goals of this effort, according to the CAA, is to "test and showcase the feasibility of flying on 100% SAF." Blends of lower concentrations, in which SAF is combined with regular aviation fuel, are becoming increasingly common. On the other hand, this will be the first transatlantic journey operated entirely by SAF.
A full year of creation
The November 28th special trip will take place nearly a year after Virgin Atlantic was awarded a £1 million ($1.24 million) government grant to assist with this endeavor. This happened on December 1st, 2022, and a thorough preparatory procedure has been underway ever since. Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, clarified that:
"Getting to this point has been more than a year in the making, and [has] taken radical collaboration across our consortium partners and government. We’re committed to using 10% SAF by 2030, but to get there we need the government to support the creation of a UK SAF industry. We know that if we can make it, we can fly it."
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