Virgin Atlantic completed the first transatlantic large passenger plane flight fully powered by sustainable fuel

The first transatlantic flight by a large passenger plane powered only by alternative fuels successfully took off yesterday from London and landed in New York.

The plane, a Boeing 787 operated by Virgin Atlantic and not carrying any fare-paying passengers, burned a blend of 88% waste fats supplied by AirBP, and 12% synthetic aromatic kerosene made from plant sugars. This blend falls under the umbrella of something called sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which itself is an umbrella term for non-fossil-derived fuels. Sustainable aviation fuels can be made from a variety of sources, including crops, household waste, and cooking oils.

The main benefit of SAF is that planes using it emit less carbon – 70% less, according to the aviation industry. Plus, they can be used to power current jet engines.

• SAF is already used in small amounts (aircraft are generally allowed to use up to 50% in a blend with traditional jet fuel), but accounts for less than 0.1% of the aviation fuel consumed around the world.

Here’s why: Numerous challenges remain a blocker to widespread adoption of SAF, including a low availability of suppliers, higher costs, and concern over the sustainability of its generation.