Hainan Airlines has operated a commercial flight with biofuel, which it says is a key environmental milestone for China’s aviation industry.
The flight carried more than 100 passengers from China’s city of Shanghai to Beijing in a Boeing 737-800. It used biofuel made by Sinopec from waste cooking oil collected from restaurants in China.
The CFM International CFM56-7B engines were powered by a fuel blend of about 50 per cent aviation biofuel mixed with conventional petroleum fuel. Hainan Airlines’ vice president, Pu Ming, who piloted the aircraft, says it shows aviation biofuel can play a
safe and effective role in China’s air transport system. Sustainably produced biofuel, which reduces carbon emissions by 50 to 80 per cent compared to petroleum through its lifecycle, is expected to play a key role in supporting aviation’s growth while meeting environmental goals. Boeing forecasts that China will require 6,020 aircraft by 2033 to meet demand for domestic and international air travel. In China, Boeing collaborates with a wide range of organisations to develop a sustainable aviation biofuel industry. Boeing China president, Ian Thomas, says the Hainan flight is a significant milestone.
