As the travel industry tries to reduce its carbon footprint, one airline is chipping in with an unusual new fuel.
Thomson Airways is set to become Britain's first airline to use biofuel when it launches a service to Spain next month - powered by that kitchen cupboard staple, cooking oil.
The used oil will be given a new lease of life, fueling flights between Birmingham and Palma, Mallorca, from July 28, just as soon as final safety clearance is received.
Thomson Airways will become Britain's first airline to fly customers on biofuel -- cooking oil -- when it operates a service to Spain
Flights will operate on a 50/50 blend of Jet A1 fuel and hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) fuel -- made from used cooking oil
After that weekly flights to Spain using biofuel will begin in September for a year, on the same route initially and switching to Birmingham-Alicante during the winter schedule.
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While airlines are keen to use biofuels as a way of cutting down on pollution, the use of food crops, such as palm oil, in their production has come under fire for taking land that could be used to feed people.
Thomson said the fuel for its maiden biofuel-powered flight would be supplied by Dutch company, SkyNRG, which is advised by an independent sustainability board.
Sustainable biofuels costs significant more than regular jet fuel and is a premium that the airline industry cannot sustain today.
'The British government believes that sustainable biofuels have a role to play in efforts to tackle climate change, particularly in sectors where no other viable low carbon energy source has been identified -- as is the case with aviation,' aviation minister Theresa Villiers said.
Using biofuels will help Thomson meet owner TUI Travel's plan to reduce the carbon emissions from its airlines by 6 per cent from 2008-14.
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