• REA welcomes first transatlantic flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) which has taken off this morning;
• Boeing 787 will use 50 tonnes of SAF, 88% of which is derived from waste fats and the rest from the wastes of corn production in the US;
• Although a significant milestone in the aviation industry, the use of mixed technologies is still necessary to hit emission targets.

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) welcomes the first transatlantic flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuels which has taken off this morning. Boeing 787 took off from London’s Heathrow airport to New York using 50 tonnes of SAF with 88% deriving from waste fats and the rest from corn production wastes in the US. Companies including Rolls-Royce and BP have been involved in the project.

Today marks a significant milestone and the REA congratulates those who have been a part of the project. The decarbonisation of the aviation industry is essential to meeting net zero, and the REA has been developing policy on this front in conjunction with their members and the Government.

However, the REA highlights that the elephant in the room still needs to be addressed in the aviation industry and reiterates the necessity of using a mix of technologies in order to reach net zero targets.

Paul Thompson, Head of Renewable Transport Fuels at the REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology) said:

“REA welcomes this first ever transatlantic flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) today and congratulates all the project partners. The decarbonisation of the aviation industry is a key sector to meet Net Zero and having been very closely involved with our members and Government in developing policy in this field, we welcome this landmark.

“However, in the longer term, we know this is not a ‘silver bullet’ and a mix of technologies (such as zero carbon hydrogen and electrification) will be necessary, alongside addressing the elephant in the room of ever growing aviation use.”