Virgin Atlantic's Pioneering Flight: A Leap Towards Sustainable Aviation
Virgin Atlantic has marked a historic milestone with its successful 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flight landing in New York City. This flight stands as a testament to SAF's capability as a safe alternative to traditional jet fuel, showcasing compatibility with modern engines, airframes, and fuel infrastructure.
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, emphasises that Flight100 is a breakthrough, demonstrating that SAF can serve as a safe, drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel. This achievement underscores SAF's pivotal role in decarbonising long-haul aviation. However, Weiss highlights a crucial challenge — the insufficient availability of SAF. To scale up production, substantial investment, regulatory certainty, and government-backed price support mechanisms are imperative. Flight100 boldly asserts, "If you make it, we'll fly it."
SAF, derived from waste products, emerges as a key player in decarbonising long-haul aviation and aligning with the New Zero 2050 initiative. Offering CO2 lifecycle emissions savings of up to 70%, SAF mirrors the performance of traditional jet fuel, emphasising its potential to reshape the aviation industry's environmental impact.
Richard Branson, the visionary founder of Virgin Atlantic, reflects on the spirit of innovation and the continuous pursuit of improvement since the airline's inception in 1984. Branson's presence on Flight100, alongside his daughter Holly, symbolises a commitment to pushing boundaries — from carbon fiber aircraft to sustainable fuels.
Despite SAF representing less than 0.1% of global jet fuel, Flight100 illuminates the challenge of scaling up production. Current fuel standards permitting only a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines highlight the need for swift policy and investment actions. The call is for industry and government collaboration to foster a thriving UK SAF industry.
Flight100 goes beyond showcasing SAF capabilities. Consortium partners, including ICF, Rocky Mountain Institute, Imperial College London, and the University of Sheffield, support research on non-carbon emissions. The study aims to enhance understanding of SAF's effects on contrails and particulates, contributing valuable data to the industry and aiding contrail forecasts in flight planning.
The SAF used in Flight100 is a distinctive dual blend — 88% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) supplied by AirBP and 12% Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene (SAK) supplied by Virent, a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation. HEFA is derived from waste fats, while SAK is sourced from waste plant sugars. This blend is essential for achieving the required aromatics for engine function in 100% SAF.
Virgin Atlantic's commitment to sustainable aviation extends beyond Flight100. Operating one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets globally, the airline has a 15-year track record of leading SAF development at scale. However, collective efforts from the industry and government are necessary to establish a robust UK SAF industry and meet the ambitious target of 10% SAF in aviation by 2030. This pursuit promises significant social and economic benefits, with an estimated contribution of £1.8 billion in Gross Value Added to the UK and the creation of over 10,000 jobs.
Virgin Atlantic's Flight100 represents a monumental step forward in sustainable aviation, underscoring the potential of SAF to revolutionise the industry and contribute to a greener, more environmentally conscious future.
