Thomson Airways flew more than 230 passengers to Lanzarote yesterday aboard an aircraft powered in one engine by biofuel.
The Tui Travel carrier hailed the flight as a “landmark”, putting Thomson Airways “at the forefront of sustainable aviation”. However, environmental campaigners dismissed it as a stunt.
The four-hour flight from Birmingham to Arrecife used a 50% blend of hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) mixed with jet fuel in one engine of a Boeing 757. The fuel is produced by Dutch company SkyNRG.
Aviation minister Theresa Villiers welcomed the flight. She said: “The government believes sustainable biofuels have a role to play in efforts to tackle climate change, particularly in sectors where no other viable low carbon energy source has been identified.”
Thomson Airways managing director Chris Browne said: “We firmly believe the adoption of sustainable biofuels by airlines will help achieve the government’s carbon budget which commits the UK to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% by 2025. Sustainable biofuel has the potential to reduce aviation emissions by up to 80% in the long term.”
However, a spokesman for Friends of Earth said: “Biofuels won’t make flying any greener – their production is pushing up food prices and wrecking rainforests.”