Virgin Atlantic is stepping up the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) with a new supply of 2.5 million litres to Heathrow in the first half of the year.
The agreement forms part of a wider collaboration with SAF provider Neste to increase the availability and use of the fuel in the UK.
The SAF is made from sustainably sourced, renewable waste and residue raw materials.
In its neat form, it is claimed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% of life cycle, compared to traditional fossil jet fuel.
The supply is a step towards the airline’s target of 10% SAF use by 2030.
The agreement represents the first commercial supply of SAF for Virgin Atlantic, following the operation of the first commercial aircraft using sustainable fuels in 2008.
The airline’s corporate development vice president Holly Boyd-Boland said: “After fleet renewal, SAF represents the greatest opportunity to decarbonise aviation in the short to medium term.
“This supply is the beginning of commercial SAF at scale for Virgin Atlantic and whilst only enough to operate 140 flights between London and New York, it’s a starting point.
“To meet our 10% SAF target in 2030 we need to deliver this volume more than 70 times over, requiring cross industry and government action to support commercialisation of SAF at scale, particularly in the UK.”
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