Virgin flight on used oil claimed to be future of 'jet zero' - in spite of risks

A Boeing 787 will set off tomorrow from London Heathrow for New York, shorn of paying passengers but with a payload of scientists, aviation leaders and politicians, and powered largely by used cooking oil - better known as sustainable aviation fuel.

- Gwyn Topham

The UK government and aviation industry hope the Virgin Atlantic flight, funded with £1m of taxpayer's money, will show that greener flying is possible and its 2050 "jet zero" aspirations are more than hot air.

The transport secretary, Mark Harper, who is himself preparing to board, has claimed the trip would be a historic moment paving the way to change the future of flight. Others argued it was a one-off stunt that the airline industry will struggle to emulate - and worse, one that could convince the public they can fly without environmental damage.

Undoubtedly, the flight demonstrates that the dial has turned on what is technically possible: the creation and use of a tank of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), synthesised from captured carbon and recycled oil.

According to the producers, the carbon footprint of the flight is about 70% below that of conventional jet fuel, in a "lifecycle" analysis. The aviation industry now believes SAFS are the single biggest tool for bringing net carbon emissions down to zero- in its roadmap to 2050 that still allows for substantial growth in flying.