United Airlines operated the world’s first passenger flight using 100% Clean Fuel (SAF), not based on gasoline.
The plane, flying from Chicago to Washington, carried 100 passengers, including the airline’s chief executive, Scott Kirby. The fuel was supplied by World Energy, North America’s only biofuel producer. The flight was operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which had 500 gallons of SAF in one jet and 500 gallons of conventional fuel in the other. According to the current rules, airlines are allowed to use a maximum of 50% SAF for the flight, and the purpose of the mentioned flight was to prove that there is no difference between the operation of engines on environmentally friendly and conventional fuel.
“The flight to SAF today is not only an important turning point in efforts to decarbonize our industry,” Kirby said. “Together with other initiatives, including commitments to produce and buy alternative fuels, it demonstrates to other airlines how they can come together and play a significant role in tackling global warming, the greatest challenge to humanity today.”
Newspaper headline:
In defense of ecology
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