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Racing to Fly With Biofuel

Air New Zealand, Virgin Air plan green commercial flights

By Vasiliki t Touhouliotis,  Newser User

Posted Sep 30, 2007 5:45 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Kiwis are planning to launch the first green commercial flight in about a year, the BBC reports. Air New Zealand promises to fly a 747 with 1 of 4 engines running on a kerosene-biofuel blend, but Virgin Atlantic may beat them to it with a bio-flight in early 2008. "It's not particularly a race, that's not the objective," says a spokeswoman.

Their flights are rousing critics who say that biofuels emit too many greenhouse gases and destroy wildlife with planted crops. Says an aviation group director, "it's become the flavor of the month for airlines to talk about biofuels, and for environmentalists to say they're not the answer." He claims that it comes down to one question: "Can we deliver on the supply side?"

Virgin Atlantic Chairman Richard Branson, left, looks on as Jim McNerney, chairman and chief executive of Boeing Co., speaks at a new conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 24, 2007, where it was announced that the London-based carrier has ordered 15 of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliners and both are partnering to...
Virgin Atlantic Chairman Richard Branson, left, looks on as Jim McNerney, chairman and chief executive of Boeing Co., speaks at a new conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 24, 2007, where it was announced...   (Associated Press)
  ((c) goosmurf)
A Virgin Atlantic airplane parked between terminals one and two waits to be pulled to an arrivals gate as a United Airlines plane, rear, lands at north runway at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. Federal officials are looking into an incident in which one...
A Virgin Atlantic airplane parked between terminals one and two waits to be pulled to an arrivals gate as a United Airlines plane, rear, lands at north runway at Los Angeles International Airport in Los...   (Associated Press)
Biofuels
Biofuels   ((c) jurvetson)
A bio-diesel train launched by Virgin Trains pulls into the platform...
A bio-diesel train launched by Virgin Trains pulls into the platform...   (Getty Images)
Airplane on tarmac.
Airplane on tarmac.   (Index Open)
Airplane on tarmac.
Airplane on tarmac.   (Index Open)
  ((c) Georgieporge)
  ((c) Georgieporge)
A Southwest Airlines vessel, in flight. We quickly learned that the majority of our customers did not want us to abandon our open seating, CEO Gary Kelly said in a statement.
A Southwest Airlines vessel, in flight. "We quickly learned that the majority of our customers did not want us to abandon our open seating," CEO Gary Kelly said in a statement.   (Shutterstock.com)
Air France Boeing 747
Air France Boeing 747   ((c) ReneS)
A Southwest Airlines vessel, in flight. We quickly learned that the majority of our customers did not want us to abandon our open seating, CEO Gary Kelly said in a statement.
A Southwest Airlines vessel, in flight. "We quickly learned that the majority of our customers did not want us to abandon our open seating," CEO Gary Kelly said in a statement.   (Shutterstock.com)
A Southwest Airlines vessel, in flight. We quickly learned that the majority of our customers did not want us to abandon our open seating, CEO Gary Kelly said in a statement.
A Southwest Airlines vessel, in flight. "We quickly learned that the majority of our customers did not want us to abandon our open seating," CEO Gary Kelly said in a statement.   (Shutterstock.com)
Virgin Atlantic Chairman Richard Branson, center left, and Jim McNerney, chairman and chief executive of Boeing Co., pose for photographers inside a display of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with two flight attendants after a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 24, 2007, where it was announced that the London-based carrier...
Virgin Atlantic Chairman Richard Branson, center left, and Jim McNerney, chairman and chief executive of Boeing Co., pose for photographers inside a display of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with two flight...   (Associated Press)
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More on Air NZ biofuel test flight
The Australian

Boeing designs to cut emissions
Herald (Everett, Wash.)

Environment is concern for British Airways
International Herald Tribune

 
airline industry • biofuel • Virgin Atlantic • green energy • Air New Zealand

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