Environment groups attack Virgin for biofuel “stunt”
LONDON: The world’s first commercial aircraft to be powered partly by biofuel flew into controversy yesterday as environmental campaigners denounced the inaugural flight as a publicity stunt.
The Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 flew from London to Amsterdam, with one of its four main tanks carrying 80 per cent standard jet fuel and a 20 per cent mix of coconut and babassu oil.
Virgin Atlantic chief sir Richard Branson said the passengerless test flight was a historic step towards using biofuels on commercial flights, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions.
Greenpeace chief scientist Doug Parr re4sponded: “This is a company hell-bent on unrestrained airport expansion, starting with a third runway at Heathrow.
“Biofuels can often cause more damage to the environment than fossil fuels, and Virgin is using this flight to divert attention from an irresponsible, business-as-usual attitude to climate change.”
Sir Richard said fully commercial biofuel flights, still a few years away, were more likely to use feedstocks such as algae than the coconut and babassu oil mix.
The fuel was developed in partnership with Boeing, engine-maker General Electric and energy company Imperium Renewables.
Environmental groups say biofuel crops are raising food costs in developing countries, damaging the environment and displacing indigenous people.
Sir Richard said his fuel was “completely environmentally and socially sustainable”.
The coconut oil was sourced in The Philippines, one of the world’s top three producers, and the babassu oil was taken mostly from a wild palm found in Brazil.
Sir Richard said process did not compete with food supplies or cause deforestation.
He called the flight “a biofuel breakthrough for the whole airline industry”.
“Virgin Atlantic, and its partners, are proving that you can find an alternative to traditional jet fuel and fly a plane on new technology, such as sustainable biofuel.
“This pioneering flight will enable those of us who are serious about reducing our carbon emissions to go on developing the fuels of the future.”
Sir Richard called for passenger taxes to be lowered for airlines that reduced emissions and said Virgin was willing to share its biofuel knowledge with other industry stakeholders.
Report from The Australian
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt