United Airlines will on Wednesday operate an unprecedented flight that would serve as a turning point in the aviation industry’s effort to combat climate change.
According to the carrier, for the first time in aviation history a commercial carrier would fly an aircraft full of passengers using 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
The demonstration flight would depart with more than 100 passengers from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and land at Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, using a new United 737 MAX 8 with 500 gallons of SAF in one engine and the same amount of conventional jet fuel in the other engine to further prove there are no operational differences between the two and to set the stage for more scalable uses of SAF by all airlines in the future.
United Also announced the second round of corporate participants in its Eco-Skies Alliance Programme to collectively contribute to the purchase of SAF.
The airline made these known in a statement on Wednesday.
SAF is an alternative fuel made with non-petroleum feedstock and according to United Airlines, the fuel can deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel with lower carbon emissions.
The Chief Executive Officer, United Airlines, Scott Kirby, was quoted as saying, “United continues to lead from the front when it comes to climate change action. Today’s SAF flight is not only a significant milestone for efforts to decarbonise our industry, but when combined with the surge in commitments to produce and purchase alternative fuels, we are demonstrating the scalable and impactful way companies can join together and play a role in addressing the biggest challenge of our lifetimes.”
United would operate the flight in partnership with Boeing, CFM International. United’s Kirby would be joined by executives from each of the companies with other business leaders, government officials, NGOs and members of the media.
Meanwhile, United Airlines had on Tuesday inaugurated a nonstop service between its hub at Washington Dulles International Airport, United States and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria.
The first flight from Washington DC, which was operated with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, arrived Lagos on Tuesday.
The company added that with three weekly flights, the carrier is the only airline serving the Washington, DC-Lagos route, nonstop.
United’s Senior Vice President International Network Planning and Alliances, Patrick Quayle, had said, “This new flight from Lagos reinforces our ongoing commitment to growing our network in Africa and providing more convenient service to the destinations our customers want to fly to most.”
Article first published on the Punch Website
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