Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce have announced that they will operate the world’s first transatlantic flight powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on 28 November 2023.

The flight will depart from London Heathrow and land at New York JFK on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, using a SAF blend of 88% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) and 12% synthetic aromatic kerosene (SAK).

The SAF will be supplied by Air bp and Virent, who will provide 60 tonnes of the fuel for the project, which is jointly funded by the Department for Transport and involves a consortium of partners, including Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and Rocky Mountain Institute.

The project aims to demonstrate the potential of SAF as a 100% drop-in replacement for conventional jet fuel, as well as to reduce the environmental impacts of aviation and contribute to research and development on the non-CO2 effects of flying.

SAF is a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels that can reduce CO2 lifecycle emissions by more than 70%, while still meeting the strict quality and safety standards required for aviation. SAF is currently the most viable option for decarbonising long-haul flights, but it represents less than 0.1% of jet fuel volumes and fuel standards only allow for a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines.

The Virgin Atlantic flight will be the first to use 100% SAF in a commercial aircraft, pending further regulatory approvals and testing. The partners have already completed a successful ground test on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, which powers the Boeing 787 aircraft, using the chosen SAF blend.

Virgin Atlantic is committed to finding more sustainable ways to fly and achieving its Net Zero 2050 goal. The airline already operates one of the most fuel and carbon efficient fleets across the Atlantic and has a 15-year track record of leading on SAF.

Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: “The 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel transatlantic flight will be a historic moment in aviation’s roadmap to decarbonisation. Alongside fleet transformation, SAF is the most readily available way for our industry to decarbonise, but currently there’s not enough supply and without it and the radical collaboration required to produce it, we can’t meet our 2030 targets. 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% SAF – if we make it, we can fly it.”

Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, said: “We are incredibly proud that our Trent 1000 engines will power the first ever flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across the Atlantic. Confirming that we have successfully completed the ground test of the Trent 1000 engine today, using the chosen 100% SAF blend, gives us increased confidence for the engine’s performance and operation ahead of the flight this November. The flight will represent an incredible milestone for the entire aviation industry in its journey towards net zero carbon emissions.”

Andreea Moyes, Global Head of Sustainability at Air bp, said: “We are thrilled to be supplying Sustainable Aviation Fuel for the world’s first 100% SAF transatlantic flight. SAF is currently the most viable option to help us meet the industry’s net zero ambition and in the short and medium term it will be the only option for long-haul flights. Moving our industry and policy towards the use of 100% SAF is important as we work in collaboration with key stakeholders to help decarbonise aviation.”

Dave Kettner, President & General Counsel at Virent said: “With Virent’s plant-based Synthesized Aromatic Kerosene (SAK) providing essential fuel components, this test showed that 100% drop-in renewable fuel is cleaner burning and will work seamlessly in today’s commercial airline engines. We’re honoured to collaborate with Virgin Atlantic, Rolls-Royce and Air bp as these forward-looking companies lead the way in sustainable aviation. Virent shares their commitment to finding sustainable ways to fly, and we’re excited about the pivotal role our BioForm® SAK plays in making that goal a reality.”

Sheila Remes, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability at Boeing said: “Boeing is proud to provide technical expertise and support for this testing as we gear-up for Virgin Atlantic’s flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner to make the first 100% SAF transatlantic flight. We look forward to continuing to work with our project partners on this journey, taking one more step towards a sustainable future of flight.”