Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce Set Date for World’s First 100% Sustainable Transatlantic Flight

Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce have made a groundbreaking announcement, setting the date for the world’s first-ever 100% Sustainable Air Fuel (SAF) transatlantic flight. This significant milestone comes after the successful completion of the SAF blend ground test on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine.

Mark your calendars for November 28, 2023, when a hand-picked Virgin Boeing 787 Dreamliner will take off from London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) to New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), powered entirely by SAF. The 60 tons of SAF needed for the flight, as well as for research and testing, will be supplied by Air bp and Virent, according to the announcement made on July 20, 2023.

The production of the SAF will involve a blend ratio of 88% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathway, along with 12% synthetic aromatic kerosene (SAK) SAF.

Virgin Atlantic expressed its belief in the potential of “radical collaboration” within the aviation industry to achieve 100% SAF for long-haul flights. However, the airline also issued a call to the sector to go beyond this achievement and develop a UK SAF industry to meet aviation’s 10% SAF target by 2030.

Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, emphasized the significance of the upcoming transatlantic flight in the aviation industry’s journey towards decarbonization. He stressed that SAF is currently the most feasible means to reduce carbon emissions in the industry, but the limited supply and lack of collaboration pose challenges in meeting the 2030 targets. Weiss urged for UK government support to create a UK SAF industry, enabling every flight departing from the UK to operate with 100% SAF.

The Virgin Atlantic-led consortium, funded jointly by the UK Department for Transport, includes Rolls-Royce, Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London, and Rocky Mountain Institute.

While the successful completion of the ground test on the Trent 1000 engine is a significant milestone, there are still further permissions and safety approvals required before the historic flight can take place in November.

Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, expressed immense pride in powering the first-ever flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across the Atlantic. He highlighted the confidence gained from the engine’s successful ground test and its potential impact on the aviation industry’s journey towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions.