A first for Virgin Atlantic: historic net zero transatlantic flight
Virgin Atlantic will operate the first net zero transatlantic flight in 2023. A Boeing 787 aircraft will fly from London to New York using solely sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
By Virgin Atlantic
The idea behind this special flight is to show the world how SAF could replace conventional jet fuel. When fully replacing kerosene, SAF can cut lifecycle carbon emissions by more than 70%, compared to conventional fossil jet fuel.
For this historic first net zero transatlantic flight, a consortium that includes Virgin Atlantic, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, RMI, and ICF has received UK government funding.
The use of 100% SAF on the flight, combined with carbon removal through biochar credits (a material that traps and stores carbon taken from the atmosphere) will make the flight net zero.
According to Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic CEO, “the challenge recognizes the critical role that SAF has to play in decarbonising aviation and the urgent collective action needed to scale production and use of SAF globally. The research and results will be a huge step in fast tracking SAF use across the aviation industry and support the investment, collaboration and urgency needed to produce SAF at scale. Our collective ambition of Net Zero by 2050 depends on it.”
