A Virgin Atlantic passenger jet powered by 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) took off from London on a flight to New York on Tuesday, as the aviation world seeks to showcase the potential of low carbon options to secure its future.
As the world de-carbonises, airlines are banking on fuel made from waste to reduce their emissions by up to 70 per cent, enabling them to keep operating before electric and hydrogen-powered air travel becomes a reality in the decades to come.
Aviation accounts for an estimated 2-3 per cent of global carbon emissions. SAF is key toward reducing those emissions, but it is costly, at about three to five times as much as regular jet fuel right now, and accounts for less than 0.1 per cent of total global jet fuel in use today.
