First biofuelled 747 lands at Gatwick

The first commercial flight to use jet fuel partly made from recycled industrial waste landed at London Gatwick yesterday.

The Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747, flying from Orlando, Florida, used a blend containing 5 per cent biofuel made from industrial waste gases converted into ethanol. Produced by Lanzatech, the biofuel is said to deliver a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of “at least 65 per cent” compared with conventional fuel.

Lanzatech is aiming to open three UK plants by 2025, producing enough fuel to fly all Virgin Atlantic’s British outbound flights in a 50-50 mix.