Virgin biofuel flight dismissed as publicity stunt

THE world’s first commercial aircraft to be powered partly by biofuel flew into controversy yesterday as environmental campaigners denounced the inaugural flight as a publicity stunt.

The Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 flew from London Heathrow to Amsterdam, with one of the four main tanks carrying 80% standard jet fuel and a 20% mix of coconut and babassu oil.

Virgin Atlantic president Richard Branson said the passenger-less test flight was a “historic” step towards using biofuels on commercial flights, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions.

But he said fully commercial biofuel flights were likely to use feedstocks such as algae rather than the mix used on yesterday’s run.

Environmental groups say biofuel crops are raising food costs in developing nations, damaging the environment and displacing indigenous populations.

And they pointed to Mr Branson’s calls for a third runway as proof of his lack of environmental credibility.

The Virgin boss said his fuel was “completely environmentally and socially sustainable”, with the coconut oil sourced in the Philippines, one of the world’s top three producers, and the babassu oil taken mostly from a wild palm found in Brazil.

He said the process does not compete with food supplies or cause deforestation, and the oils can also be found in everyday cosmetic products, such as lip balm and shaving cream.

Greenpeace chief scientist Dr Doug Parr said: “Biofuels can often cause more damage to the environment than fossil fuels, and Virgin is using this flight to divert attention from an irresponsible, business as usual attitude to climate change.”