2023 to bring world’s first net zero transatlantic flight

The first ever net zero transatlantic flight will take off from the UK in 2023, with the government providing funding for Virgin Atlantic to make the trip from London to New York using solely sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

This flight is expected to be fuelled by SAF made primarily from waste oils and fats, such as used cooking oil, reducing emissions by over 70% compared to conventional kerosene derived from fossil fuels. Biochar credits will also be used to trap and store carbon from the atmosphere will also be used on the flight to make it completely carbon neutral.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:? 

For decades, flying from London to New York has symbolised aviation’s ability to connect people and drive international progress. It’s now going to be at the forefront of cutting carbon emissions from flying. 

Not only will this flight pave the way for future generations, but it will demonstrate just how much we can achieve when we work together on a shared goal – bringing together some of the best businesses and academics in the world and led by a British airline.

Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic CEO said:

As an airline founded on and committed to innovation, we’re proud to lead a cross-industry consortium of partners to make aviation history by operating the first ever 100% SAF flight across the Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flight in 1984 was to New York and today it continues to be one of our most popular routes. It will be an honour to pave the way for this important business and leisure route to become even more sustainable.

This challenge recognises the critical role that SAF has to play in decarbonising aviation and the urgent collective action needed to scale production and use of SAF globally. The research and results will be a huge step in fast-tracking SAF use across the aviation industry and supporting the investment, collaboration and urgency needed to produce SAF at scale. Our collective ambition of net zero by 2050 depends on it.

Widespread use of SAF is one of the key tools available to decarbonise the aviation sector, one of the highest contributors globally to greenhouse gas emissions. Expansion of the use of SAF, as well as its benefits for achieving net zero, could also generate up to £742 million for the UK economy, and support 5,200 jobs by 2035, a figure that could rise further through global exports.

The government will introduce a SAF mandate requiring at least 10% of jet fuel to be made from sustainable sources by 2030 to create secure and growing demand. At Manchester Airport, carriers will soon also have the option to use hydrogen fuel for short-haul flights following a partnership with HyNet to connect the hub directly with infrastructure at the Cheshire hydrogen cluster.