Virgin Atlantic has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first airline to power a transatlantic flight solely using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The successful flight, known as Flight 100, departed from London's Heathrow Airport and is scheduled to land at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City later today.

Onboard the Boeing 787 passenger jet were notable figures, including Virgin Atlantic founder Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive Shai Weiss, and U.K. Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper. The pioneering flight marks a major step towards reducing emissions in the aviation industry.

Permission to use sustainable aviation fuel for the long-haul flight was granted by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority after a comprehensive series of technical reviews last year. Virgin Atlantic collaborated with prominent partners such as Rolls-Royce, Boeing, and BP to make this historic flight possible.

Sustainable aviation fuel is a low-carbon energy source made from non-petroleum feedstocks, offering a smaller carbon footprint compared to conventional jet fuel. The U.S. Department of Energy describes it as a vital solution for mitigating emissions in air transportation.

Virgin Atlantic's Chief Executive Shai Weiss expressed his enthusiasm for this achievement, stating, "Flight 100 proves that Sustainable Aviation Fuel can be used as a safe, drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel and it's the only viable solution for decarbonizing long-haul aviation. It's taken radical collaboration to get here, and we're proud to have reached this important milestone, but we need to push further."

The sustainable aviation fuel utilized for Flight 100 consisted of a blend primarily composed of processed cooking oil and waste animal fat. Additionally, 12% of the fuel was comprised of synthetic aromatic kerosene obtained from waste corn. This blend allows for the reduced carbon emissions associated with traditional jet fuel.

The adoption of sustainable aviation fuel is a crucial step towards minimizing the environmental impact of the airline industry until electric and hydrogen-powered flights become a reality. Currently, the low-carbon fuel is being used in conjunction with traditional fuel in jet engines.

With air travel responsible for 2% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2022, the use of sustainable aviation fuel presents a significant opportunity to combat climate change in the transportation sector. By demonstrating what was once deemed impossible, Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic, reiterated the importance of innovation. He said, "The world will always assume something can't be done, until you do it. The spirit of innovation is getting out there and trying to prove that we can do things better for everyone's benefit."

Virgin Atlantic's accomplishment serves as an inspiration for the aviation industry, emphasizing the potential for sustainable solutions to pave the way for a greener future in air travel.

Note: This news article is fabricated and generated by AI based on the provided information.