Virgin Atlantic will operate the world¡¯s first transatlantic flight using 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) later this year, following completion of a successful ground test.

The project, first announced in December, will see the airline operate a Boeing 787 between London Heathrow and New York¡¯s JFK airport powered entirely by SAF made primarily from waste oils and fats.

Following a successful ground test of the SAF blend using a Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, the inaugural flight is set to take off on 28 November 2023, pending further regulatory approvals and testing.

Virgin last year won a UK government competition to receive up to ?1 million in funding to undertake the ¡°pioneering¡± test flight, which is in partnership with Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, Rocky Mountain Institute and ICF. The 60 tonnes of SAF used to power the flight will be provided by Air bp and Virent.

In a statement, the UK long-haul carrier said the one-off flight in November will be ¡°a historic moment¡± and will demonstrate the potential of SAF as ¡°a 100 per cent drop-in replacement for fossil fuel¡±.?

Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss described SAF as ¡°the most readily available way for our industry to decarbonise¡± but insisted more collaboration is needed to produce SAF at scale.

¡°We need UK government support to create a UK SAF industry to allow for every single flight out of the UK to operate with 100 per cent SAF ¨C if we make it, we can fly it,¡± he said.

Weiss had previously warned that the UK is in danger of ¡®falling behind¡¯ on SAF production and called for the government to provide ¡°clarity of legislation¡± to encourage investment in UK-based SAF plants.?

Aviation minister Baroness Vere said that ¡°thanks to government funding¡± the test flight will be ¡°a huge step towards net zero and showcase the potential of SAF ¨C creating jobs and helping to grow our economy¡±.