Part of Alaska Air Group’s “Greener Skies” project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), the flight test was focused on using satellite-based guidance technology (Required Navigation Performance, or RNP) to fly more efficient landing procedures that will reduce environmental impacts.

The airline, in cooperation with the Port of Seattle, Boeing and other airlines serving Sea-Tac, is seeking Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for the procedures, which could ultimately be used by all properly equipped carriers at Sea-Tac.

Representatives from Alaska, Boeing, the FAA and the Port of Seattle observed the level of flight path precision and fuel consumption on eight landing approaches in a Boeing 737-700. With a landing weight similar to a typical passenger flight, the shorter and more efficient approaches reduced carbon emissions and saved 400 pounds of fuel per approach.

Alaska Airlines estimates the new procedures at Sea-Tac will cut fuel consumption by 2.1 million gallons annually and reduce carbon emissions by 22,000 metric tons, the equivalent of taking 4,100 cars off the road every year.

They will also reduce overflight noise for an estimated 750,000 people living below the affected flight corridor.

“Sea-Tac is the ideal location to pursue this cutting-edge project,” said Ben Minicucci, Alaska’s chief operating officer. “Seattle has the highest percentage of advanced RNP-equipped planes in the nation, and — working with the FAA — Alaska Airlines, Boeing and the Port of Seattle are committed to making ‘Greener Skies’ a reality as soon as possible. Ultimately this project could serve as a blueprint for next-generation aviation technology throughout the country.”

Typically, commercial aircraft follow a lengthy approach pattern and series of stair-step descents before landing. Using RNP technology and a continuous descent, also called an optimized profile descent (OPD), aircraft can descend from cruise altitude to an airport runway along a shorter, more direct flight path at low power.

Planning and testing of the procedures will continue through the remainder of the year and will be integrated into Alaska Airlines and sister carrier Horizon Air’s commercial operations at Sea-Tac pending FAA approval.

For more info, visit http://www.alaskaair.com.

A new study released today shows a quarter of us spend between two and three days packing our bags for our holiday, but once there only 16% of us actually use and wear everything we’ve packed.

In fact, a third of us are not using a quarter of what we take away.

This means not only do we struggle to lug around ridiculously heavy suit cases but our overstuffed luggage is now becoming a contributor to the pollution of the planet.

In an effort to cope with so much unnecessary weight, airplanes are using more fuel and therefore creating more carbon waste.

And the impact is clear. If those who don’t utilize their luggage reduced their items by that 25% it would save 7,537 tons of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere each year.

This equates to taking a staggering 2,216 family cars off the road.

So just how do you pack light but pack well, ensuring you look after your back as well as your holidaymaking carbon footprint?

Television stylist and fashion guru Brix Smith-Start is supporting Thomson’s Holidays Forever packing campaign and says: “Everyone wants to look fabulous when they are on holiday, yet too many of us don’t think about what outfits we’ll actually want to wear and so we end up with clothes that won’t see the light of day once we are away.

“As the coming weekends will be some of the busiest weekends for travelling overseas, I’m providing travellers with some top tips on how to make their luggage more green and advising how holiday makers can bring fewer items, but still look great.”

Brix’s top tips for packing

Check the weather before you travel

If the weather forecast is dry and sunny throughout the time you are away then you are unlikely to need more then one warm jumper and one pair of jeans. Jeans and jumpers are heavy clothes so wear them on the flight. Bring an umbrella just in case, but leave your rain coat at home!

Think about the kind of holiday you are going to have

If you love active adventure then by all means bring your hiking boots and heavy duty combat trousers to protect your legs from scrapes. However if you are just going to lie by the beach and possibly do some sightseeing then leave your boots behind, unpack your gym kit and just bring a pair of plimsolls or shoes that you’ll be comfortable walking around in.

Plan what shoes you’ll wear

Shoes weigh a lot, and yet over 10% of those asked packed five or more pairs! On holiday you don’t need to match your shoes with every dress instead bring a pair of sparkly flat flip flops or sandals, and a pair of wedges or neutral high heel sandals, which will go with everything. You then just need a pair of flip flops for the beach and some plimsolls for walking.

Bring a couple of statement items

A fabulous maxi-dress, an original kaftan or a statement necklace will be all you need to get you from looking chic during the day to looking glamorous at night. Kaftans and maxi-dresses are so easy to dress up or down and a bright print will make you really stand out and feel confident while you are away.

Don’t bring a towel

Towels are heavy, get smelly when damp and take up a lot of room in your case. A lot of beach hotels provide beach towels and if yours doesn’t you can easily pick up a cheap one once you are away or just use your sarong.

Get a great sarong

A good quality sarong can be used as a beach dress, a cover up, a sun protector for babies, a bag, a head scarf or as I said before instead of a beach towel. Get one that you love so that you’ll get the best use out of it.

Bring accessories that will work hard

Strings of beads that can be worn as bracelets or necklaces, chunky earrings and necklaces that can smarten up a beach dress and flower corsages that can jazz up a plain boob tube or can be pinned to your sun hat – accessories should be the key to your summer wardrobe. They are small and will ensure that your outfits can look different each time you wear them.

Cut down on toiletries

Do you need hair spray, mousse, serum, gel, body lotion, body oil, after sun etc?  – probably not. In fact if you are anything like me your toiletries bag will be the heaviest thing in your suitcase. Try and cut down by bringing mini versions of your products and deciding what you actually need to get you through the day. Remember you’ll probably spend less time getting ready at night as it will be too hot for blow dries and straightening sessions. Also if you are going away with the girls, choose who will bring what. You don’t need four bottles of shampoo between four of you!

White pants

White shorts, white three quarter length trousers, white jeans, white linen trousers any of the above will work well on holiday as with the right top they look so glamorous. Find a pair that make you look great and wear them with everything.

Bring fun jewelry on holiday

Holidays are not the place for diamonds and pearls. If you lost something valuable when you were away you’d be devastated and it is more likely to happen when you are moving around. Instead bring fun, bright, cheap jewellery that will dress up your outfits and look fabulous!

For more information visit www.holidaysforever.co.uk

Powered by a new partnership with Zerofootprint, a leading organization in the global fight against climate change, the bilingual Voluntary Carbon Offset program offers travelers the choice of two new ISO-14064 certified carbon offsets projects – including an Ontario-based landfill gas recovery project and a tire recycling program in Quebec.

These two new projects provide additional options for customers to neutralize their carbon footprint when traveling with Air Canada, in addition to the existing Forest Restoration project in British Columbia, working to create a forest that will continue to be healthy beyond the lifespan of the current generation of trees.

“At Air Canada, we are committed to finding and implementing innovative ways to protect the environment, and we have implemented a number of programs, from on-board recycling to more fuel-efficient aircraft,” said Guylaine Lavoie, Director Marketing Innovations at Air Canada. “In collaboration with Zerofootprint, we launched the Voluntary Carbon Offset Program, and we are pleased to expand the program with additional offset projects to provide more choices for our passengers striving to mitigate the environmental footprint of their travel.”

Customers purchasing certified offsets through this program will see their funds go toward projects that result in measurable, verified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Funds are directed toward certified, fully transparent and independently audited projects.

“Offsetting is an interim measure that individuals can use to mitigate activities that contribute to climate change, but that are sometimes difficult to avoid” said Ron Dembo, CEO and founder of Zerofootprint. “At Zerofootprint we advise individuals and organizations to measure environmental impact, reduce their footprint as much as possible, and finally to take advantage of carbon offset programs. Offsets with real, tangible, audited benefits are an important mechanism for neutralizing environmental impact.”

The Voluntary Carbon Offset program first launched in 2007, and since then passengers have offset 15,554 tons of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to almost taking 4,000 cars off the road.

“As a new airline and the only California-based carrier, we’ve made sustainable practices a focus in our operations and training from day one,” said David Cush, President and CEO of Virgin America. “Although no airline can be perfect, we’re pleased to be recognized for our green efforts to date and we will continue to make environmental best practices part and parcel of our business model as we grow.”

Since its launch, Virgin America has operated a brand new fleet that is up to 25% more fuel and carbon efficient than the average fleet flying domestically. The airline employs practices such as single engine taxiing, maximizing use of efficient ground power, utilizing advanced avionics to fly more efficiently, and cost index flying — the practice of regulating cruising speeds to reduce fuel burn.

It is also the first airline to list its carbon footprint according to internationally-accepted standards via The Climate Registry. The airline is also the first to offer guests the ability to offset the carbon footprint of their flight — in-flight via the touch-screen Red seatback entertainment through partner Carbonfund.org.

Brief history of eco awareness

At its 2007 inception, Virgin America moved into its Burlingame, California headquarters (built in 1995), from which the airline worked with their landlord Equity Office Partners to ensure that the building would be retrofitted to meet LEED Silver standards. The project was complete at the end of 2009 and was approved earlier this month by the U.S. Green Buildings Counsel. Virgin America voluntarily offsets its headquarters footprint on an annual basis.

The company also published its first annual Climate Report in 2009, which included an overview of its industry-leading sustainability efforts as well as comprehensive 2008 emissions data for all six internationally-recognized greenhouse gases (GHGs). The report also benchmarks the airline’s leading performance versus other domestic carriers.

The airline also runs recycling initiatives (recycling in-flight waste from nearly 50% of its flights); efforts that it intends to expand throughout 2010.

Future growth

Virgin America has experienced rapid expansion since its 2007 launch – currently employing over 1600 “teammates” with plans to double its base over the next three years.

In addition to Virgin America’s corporate growth, the airline is expanding its presence at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) by becoming one of two anchor tenants in the airport’s new Terminal 2 facility.

The $383 million Terminal 2 project is also anticipated to achieve Silver LEED Certification — and when completed in 2011, will serve as the home base of San Francisco’s only hometown airline. Designed to improve indoor air quality and reduce energy consumption, the innovative sustainable elements included in Terminal 2 will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the facility by an estimated 1,667 tons per year. In addition — Terminal 2 will offer preferential parking for hybrid cars and the first airport dining program in the country to recruit Slow Food® vendors.

“We worked hard to make our headquarters operation as environmentally efficient as possible through recycling and electric and water efficiency upgrades, and we’re proud to have that same focus on sustainable operations reflected in the design of our new home at SFO’s Terminal 2,” said Len Sloper, Manager of Corporate Real Estate for Virgin America. “SFO has been a great partner in this project and we’re excited to share this new terminal with our guests.”

Customer Involvement

In recognition of Earth Day 2010, New York-based JetBlue Airways renewed its One Thing That’s Green campaign to encourage customers, crew members and communities across its network to join in committing to the planet via a massive tree-planting initiative throughout NYC.

For its part, the low-cost carrier is donating one tree for each if its 12,000 crew members through its carbon offset partner Carbonfund.org.

“Just one small change in your daily routine can make a huge impact on the environment,” said JetBlue’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Gina Rauscher. “By taking action and social responsibility, together we can help make a difference in preserving our planet by reducing our impact, volunteering our services and educating ourselves and others on environmentally-friendly practices.”

The campaign is part of the company’s Jetting to Green initiative -  a program that launched in 2008 to encourage environmentally practices through education and volunteerism. Last year alone, over 64,000 people participated in Jetting to Green. The company is aiming to get at least 100,000 involved this year.

Corporate Green Teams

In 2008 and 2009, JetBlue again was voted “Most Eco-Friendly Airline” by Zagat’s Airline Survey, and was also ranked highest in customer satisfaction among North American low-cost carriers in 2009 by J.D. Power and Associates – two prestigious accolades thanks largely to the company’s newly-established JetBlue Green Team.

The Team is comprised of senior leadership from each major operating group throughout the airline and is tasked with developing green metrics for 2010 and beyond. Its mission is to explore, among other things, building greener operations and environmentally-friendly business opportunities – from new fuel technologies and recycling initiatives to new green products. Current practices include aircraft fuel saving initiatives, EcoPower engine wash processes and electric utility maintenance trucks.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink

Another airline sensitive to the importance of protecting and preserving the environment is Continental Airlines. Between 2006 and 2009, the airline collected more than 16.6 million pounds of recyclable materials from its hub airports and operated the first demonstration flight by a U.S. carrier using biofuel.

“At Continental, we take environmental responsibility seriously, and we have for more than ten years,” said Leah Raney, Continental’s managing director of global environmental affairs. “Continental has comprehensive programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; promote recycling inflight and at its facilities; support alternative fuel development; construct facilities responsibly; and offer customers a thoughtful carbon offsetting option. We’re celebrating our accomplishments on Earth Day, but our commitment really extends to every day of the year, and to every facet of our operation.”

Continental operates one of the most fuel-efficient fleets of any major U.S. airline, and, since 1997, the airline has reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption by 38 percent per revenue passenger mile.

Every year since 1997, Continental has flown more people, more miles, to more locations. At the same time, the airline has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by four million metric tons by modernizing its fleet.

“The No. 1 way that an airline can substantively reduce its impact on the environment is by lowering greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft by reducing the amount of fuel we burn,” Raney said.

Continental’s fuel efficiency improvements are due in large part to an investment of more than $13 billion during the past 12 years to acquire 300 fuel-efficient aircraft and related equipment. All Continental aircraft are twin-engine aircraft, which burn less fuel and emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) than comparable three- and four-engine aircraft.

In addition to flying fuel-efficient aircraft types, Continental has equipped its fleet with fuel-saving modifications to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Investing in the future

Going forward, Continental has committed to invest in additional new, fuel-efficient aircraft and ground equipment worth more than $10 billion, with even cleaner technology, through 2016.

To that end, the airline has committed to the development of alternative fuels as part of a national energy policy that will promote energy sources other than crude oil, freeing up crude oil for those solely dependent on it until technology evolves.

The trans-Atlantic Boeing 767-300 flight from Paris to Miami yesterday morning made American the first U.S. airline to test next-generation technology and procedures that will significantly reduce carbon emissions and save fuel on trans-Atlantic routes as outlined in the Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE).

AIRE, a joint initiative among the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Commission (EC), and several international airlines, is designed to speed up application of new technologies and operational procedures, which have a direct impact on reducing carbon emissions and noise pollution as well as conserving fuel.

Part of the AIRE project includes gate-to-gate flight demonstrations to test the benefits of technologies that will be used with the FAA’s NextGen and the EC’s Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) air traffic management systems.

“It is critical that the aviation industry work with our Air Traffic Control partners to demonstrate the benefits of NextGen technology today,” said Bob Reding, American’s Executive Vice President – Operations. “By implementing this technology as quickly as possible, we can make real and meaningful strides to reduce our impact on the environment, increase system capacity and reduce air traffic delays.”

Putting tomorrow’s technology to the test

The flight was conducted using several fuel conservation measures, including single-engine taxi on departure and arrival, continuous climb-out and descent, optimized routing over water, and a “tailored arrival.”

Among those procedures are several key elements of Fuel Smart, American’s existing fuel conservation program. In 2010, American aims to increase its annual fuel savings rate to 120 million gallons, which will also reduce carbon emissions by 2.5 billion pounds.

Post-flight data analysis by the FAA, EC and American will determine the carbon and fuel savings gained on the demonstration flight. The FAA and American have conducted trials in Miami since last year to determine the best way to use the next-generation technology.

“Utilizing NextGen technology is also a crucial part of American’s overall environmental and fuel savings efforts,” added Reding, “which have already yielded annual fuel savings of more than 110 million gallons and a reduction of 2.2 billion pounds of carbon emissions

A longtime leader in air travel efficiency, American Airlines pioneered the routine use of two-engine aircraft on trans-oceanic flights, which fundamentally changed air operations. Up to that point, almost all international flights were flown by three- and four-engine aircraft.

American’s efforts to open up the Atlantic to two-engine aircraft heavily influenced Boeing and Airbus to build two-engine aircraft for international flights, resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions and greater fuel efficiency across the industry.

However, according to a new survey report, while they may be driving sustainable travel industry practices, green travelers do not believe that the industry is very green yet. When asked to evaluate the green initiatives and messaging in each sector of the travel industry, the best answer most respondents could give was “needs work.”

A large majority of airlines, cruise operators and rental car companies received a substantial number of “terrible” votes from respondents.

Conducted by San Francisco-based market research firm Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), the 1st Annual Green Traveler Survey Report, is the result of a unique, pan-industry cooperative initiative between tourism businesses and nonprofit, environmental and sustainable business organizations, from the development of the survey to the interpretation of its findings.

The study surveyed the purchasing habits, travel behavior, environmental commitment, expectations and motivations of 1,736 self-defined, eco-conscious travelers.

“This is not a study about how many people recycle; there is sufficient data on that,” says Thomas Roth, president of Community Marketing. “The Green Traveler Survey Report is a comprehensive profile of green travel consumers, and it fills a need for concrete data on this distinct, desirable niche segment. Until now, no one has had a clear idea about who green travelers are or what they want. The ‘green travel’ niche has been defined mostly by spending figures.

“Without this data, it has been difficult for tourism and hospitality leaders to understand and serve the interests of this increasingly important segment,” Roth adds. “Nor has it been possible to establish consistent standards for sustainable travel. In fact, this study found that consumers are often confused and skeptical about green travel claims, which undermines many marketing initiatives.”

The report is being offered free to the tourism and hospitality industries, in order to advance efforts toward greener travel.

No true leader just yet

Often when people think of “green” travel, they immediately envision a commune-like eco “resort” set upon an unkempt beach and with little to no modern amenities or utlitites. This, obviously, could not be any further from the truth.

According to the report, there is a broad spectrum of travelers comprising the green travel niche, ranging from business and leisure travelers who participate in hotel recycling and towel reuse programs to “voluntourists” working on environmental and social development projects in developing countries.

However, it also found a gap between what green travelers say and their actual purchasing behavior, as well as price sensitivity when it came to “green premiums.”

“Marketers, sustainable program designers and other stakeholders at travel and hospitality companies need to understand the green travel spectrum in order to know where their customers fall on it, and what motivates them,” Roth says.

Respondents to the study indicated that virtually no “green brands” had emerged as leaders in the sustainable travel niche.

“There are few ‘top-of-mind’ greener brands, if any, in any segment of the industry,” Roth says. “That told us that travel suppliers and destinations were failing to differentiate themselves with robust, green practices—and that their branding and messaging could be sharper and more meaningful.”

Market growth led by trendsetters

Consumer behavior has the power to dictate economies. At such a critical time in the travel industry, market leaders need to listen to their customers in an effort to avoid a meltdown. If for no other reason than good business sense, the travel and tourism needs to get “greener” while effectively communicating this paradigm shift to its customers in a relevant, non-greenwashed way.

“As the planet continues to heat up and resources become scarcer, every other sector of the economy is going to be adopting sustainable practices—more or less quickly,” continued Roth. “It makes business—as well as environmental—sense. Eco-conscious travelers are trendsetters in our industry. The rest of the market will follow.”

To receive a complimentary pdf copy of the 150-plus page report, e-mail your request to report@CMIgreen.com. Be sure to include your name, title and organization. You will then receive a link to download the PDF of the report, updates to the study and announcements on future initiatives.

For most companies, CSR and corporate sustainability practices may be formulated upon the principle of sufficiency economy, which can be applied towards developing socially responsible business operations.

Highlighting this, Thai Airways recently organized a seminar on “THAI’s CSR and Corporate Sustainability” – focusing on several CSR implementations by the airline. By organizing this seminar, Thai Airways hopes to promote good corporate governance and social responsibility among employees.

Furthermore, this will generate key driving forces among employees to organize corporate social activities to ensure that business operations, corporate governance, and the sufficiency economy philosophy collectively shapes the organization’s identity and is integrated into the corporate business strategy.

Guest lecturers who participated in the seminar were Mr. Sathit Limpongpan who gave a lecture on the topic of “What & Why CSR?;” Dr. Pipat Yodprudtikan, director of Thaipat Institute, and Dr. Anusorn Sangnimnuan, president of Bangchak Petroleum Public Company Limited, on the topic “Strategic CSR Corporate Responsibility;” Mr. Wattana Opanon-amata, senior executive vice president for Corporate Administration and Information Technology of Bangchak Petroleum Public Company Limited, and Mr. Kantanit Sukontasap, vice president of Siamcity Cement Public Company Limited, on the topic of “Case Studies of CSR Activities.”

Clear green skies

Airlines pushing for stronger and more valiant efforts toward CSR is becoming more and more popular.

In December 2009, Boeing unveiled its ground-breaking new 787 Dreamliner – a large technologically-advanced airliner that uses 20% less fuel than today’s airplanes of comparable size, while providing airlines with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity and present passengers with innovations that include a new interior environment with cleaner air, larger windows, more stowage space, improved lighting and other passenger-preferred conveniences.

Meanwhile, Southwest has also recently announced plans for a “green plane” – a Boeing 737-700 that combines fuel efficiency, environmentally responsible products, customer comfort, and reduced waste and weight.

According the Southwest, environmental decisions and business practices can only benefit the business.

“Southwest is committed to continuing to lead the industry in emissions reductions through fuel efficiency,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Chairman, President, and CEO. “Efficiency in fuel consumption benefits our Company as well as the environment, and this has been part of our business model since the beginning. As we look to the future, we know climate change remains of vital importance to our industry, our Company, and our Customers, so Southwest works hard every day in every area to be a responsible steward of the environment.”

The good news is: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Balancing out the price jump is the report that, while airfares are going up, hotel rates are going down – by 15% since last year at the same time. This little tidbit helps to balance out the total trip cost for travelers.

The 2010 Spring Break Forecast, issued by the “Fareologists” at Bing Travel, showed that this year airfare for both international and domestic spring break travel, generally defined as travel between Feb. 28 and March 31, averages $349, up 9 percent from 2009. In addition, the average ticket for the most popular spring break travel itinerary with a Saturday departure and Sunday return is $418, up $57 or 16 percent from last year.

Lower hotel rates bring down costs

Although domestic airfare is higher this year, domestic hotel rates continue to drop for popular spring travel destinations, and reveal an average decline of 15 percent over 2009. To make the most of their travel budgets, consumers should choose destinations, travel dates and hotels that have decreased rates and could bring down the cost of the total trip.

On average, premium hotel rates in popular domestic spring travel destinations are down 15 percent over 2009, averaging $173 per night. In popular destinations such as Las Vegas, rates are down as much as 27 percent, an average of $103 per night, and rates in San Diego are down as much as 24 percent.

“We’ve seen some impressive hotel deals over the past year,” Grus said. “A decrease in demand and occupancy has led hotels to slash rates to fill empty rooms, and we expect that this will remain the trend for 2010 spring travel and potentially beyond.”

Also, choosing the right destination this spring could allow travelers to get more for their money. On the West Coast, travelers can choose Las Vegas or Maui, where impressive discounts can be found. Closer to the East Coast they may head to Orlando or Puerto Vallarta, where hotel rates have significantly decreased.

“Despite the recession, airlines are continuing to cut capacity, and spring airfares are creeping back up to 2008 levels,” said Bing Travel Fareologist Joel Grus. “Thankfully, we are seeing a deep decrease in hotel prices across the board, which could reduce overall trip costs and offset higher airfares.”

How to save on airfare this Spring Break

Avoid late March travel

Traveling during the first week of March as opposed to the week of March 22 will save travelers an average of $65 on airfare. The week of March 22 is particularly expensive this year, with an average airfare of $379 per ticket.

Fly Tuesdays and Wednesdays

This year, a seven-night Tuesday to Tuesday or Wednesday to Wednesday trip saves on average 22 percent and about $86 less than traveling on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Use airfare predictions

Airfares fluctuate on a daily basis. The Bing Travel Price Predictor is a helpful tool that predicts whether to buy airfare now or wait. Savvy travelers should sign up for alerts and monitor predictions for their trips before booking to help save on airfare costs.

For instance, Bing Travel’s Price Predictor shows whether the lowest fares appear to be rising or dropping and provides a recommendation to buy now or wait.

The Bing Travel Hotel Rate Indicator helps consumers know at a glance if the offered rate for a hotel is a deal based on historical rates. Rate Indicator is available for more than 5,000 hotels in 30 major cities across the country, for reservations up to 90 days in the future.

To get started planning your trip, check out the Bing Price Predictor technology at: www.bing.com/travel.

The technologically-advanced 787 uses 20 percent less fuel than today’s airplanes of comparable size, while providing airlines with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity and present passengers with innovations that include a new interior environment with cleaner air, larger windows, more stowage space, improved lighting and other passenger-preferred conveniences.

Another industry breakthrough on the aircraft is its lightweight quiet nacelle and thrust reverser system including its actuation system. A deeper-than-normal lip skin at the front of the nacelle greatly reduces drag and improves fuel efficiency. A one-piece acoustic inner liner significantly reduces engine noise, both in the passenger cabin and airport neighborhoods.

“Today is truly a proud and historic day for the global team who has worked tirelessly to design and build the 787 Dreamliner – the first all-new jet airplane of the 21st century,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. “We look forward to the upcoming flight test program and soon bringing groundbreaking levels of efficiency, technology and passenger comfort to airlines and the flying public.”

The 787 is also equipped with Goodrich-provided air data sensors, ice detectors, engine data concentrators, fuel management software and the fuel quantity indicating system.

In addition, Goodrich provides the aircraft’s proximity-sensing system as well as the integrated fuel system for the auxiliary power unit.

Other Goodrich products on board the new jet include an innovative cargo operating system; cabin attendant seating; exterior and flight deck lighting systems; integrated heated composite floor panels; and a unique flight deck entry video surveillance system designed to interface with the aircraft’s electronic flight bag system.

The aircraft will be joined in the flight test program in the coming weeks and months by five other 787s, including two that will be powered by General Electric GEnx engines.

Taking flight into the future

After a flight time of approximately three hours, the Dreamliner landed at 1:33 p.m. at Seattle’s Boeing Field.

Capts. Carriker and Neville took the airplane to an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) and an air speed of 180 knots, or about 207 miles (333 kilometers) per hour, customary on a first flight, while testing some of the airplane’s systems and structures, as on-board equipment recorded and transmitted real-time data to a flight-test team at Boeing Field.

Fifty-five customers around the world have ordered 840 787s, making the 787 Dreamliner the fastest-selling new commercial jetliner in history.

“The Dreamliner is going to be a tremendous addition to our fleet, providing our customers with a better travel experience in the cabin and new technology that reduces our impact on the environment, increases fuel efficiency and provides cost savings,” said John Tague, president of United Airlines. “This is a great day, and we congratulate Boeing on the success of the test flight and look forward to our continued partnership with them and continued success as they bring the aircraft online.”

United recently announced it was purchasing 50 next-generation widebody aircraft, including 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

A new post by the Orbitz Insider Index has just announced the busiest airports for Thanksgiving, with Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver taking the top three spots. Interestingly enough, New York-area airports ranked 7-9, narrowly beating Seattle which squeezed itself into the number 10 spot.

Where to expect the smallest crowds? Check out San Jose, CA, followed by Nashville and then Richmond, VA.

But, regardless of your departure site and/or destination, there are some friendly and useful tips that just may make your holiday travel a little bit easier.

Go small and flexible

You will find that planning in advance can make all the difference. One thing to think about before buying those tickets is whether or not you can fly out of smaller, alternative airports. Typically, these usually commuter-based hubs are much easier to navigate and less crowded. For example, if you are traveling in or out of New York, consider White Plains Westchester County Airport (HPN). Heading into or out of Los Angeles? Check out the scene in Burbank (BUR) or Orange County (SNA). Sure, tickets in or out of these airports tend to be in a higher price range, but you never know. Besides, sometimes time and aggravation outweigh all costs.

Save time

If at all possible, use online check-in. You will instantly bypass half the line-time. Print your boarding pass at home, and have them (and your ID) ready as you approach the security line. Most major airports now offer easy-to-use baggage check kiosks if you are traveling with luggage.

Stay informed

Check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport, as well as traffic conditions en route. There are a multitude of online and mobile tools that offer free flight status updates for your PDA or mobile phone. Also, most airlines offer real-time flight stats on their websites.

Also, staying informed means staying safe. Airport security can be a daunting endeavor -  Keep anything and everything you need to show airport security such as ID, boarding passes, liquids in a zip-top bag, or medication, in a separate compartment of your carry-on bag. Digging for these items once you get to the front of the security line will cause delays and certainly not make you any friends.

Get going

So, what are you waiting for? Lock-in early-bird rates before they hit the roof. Now that you got these key points in mind, nothing can stop you. Travel speedy, and have a great holiday season!

Good business sense

According the Southwest, environmental decisions and business practices can only benefit the business.

“Southwest is committed to continuing to lead the industry in emissions reductions through fuel efficiency,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Chairman, President, and CEO. “Efficiency in fuel consumption benefits our Company as well as the environment, and this has been part of our business model since the beginning. As we look to the future, we know climate change remains of vital importance to our industry, our Company, and our Customers, so Southwest works hard every day in every area to be a responsible steward of the environment.”

All of the elements being tested on this Green Plane, when combined, will equate to a weight savings of almost five pounds per seat, thus saving fuel and reducing emissions, along with adding recyclable elements to the cabin interior and reducing waste.

“Southwest is proud to lead the aviation industry in environmental stewardship and honored to be working with these eco-friendly vendors and our partners at Boeing,” Kelly continued. “We are excited to test their forward-thinking products and expect these green products to not only help the environment, but also create a fuel and materials cost saving for Southwest.”

The new plane’s “green” elements include:

• InterfaceFLOR Carpet – a 100% recyclable and carbon neutral carpet that reduces labor and material costs because it is installed in sections, thus eliminating the need for total replacement of areas such as aisles, where Southwest currently uses one single piece of carpet.
• Seat covers – two new products that will be tested on the aircraft seats, offering more than twice the durability than the current leather seats as well as a weight savings of almost two pounds per seat. On one side of the aisle, e-Leather is an eco-friendly, lightweight and scuff resistant man-made alternative to traditional leather. It is made from recycled materials that have been discarded by the leather industry. It is then upgraded utilizing eco-friendly technology, resulting in composition leather, a man-made material. On the other side of the aisle, IZIT Leather, a new breed of premium leather alternative, is an evolutionary step beyond calf skin that offers a lightweight product that is both economical and durable, but with the genuine appearance and touch of luxurious leather.
• Life Vest Pouch – more environmentally friendly because it offers a weight savings of one pound per passenger, replacing the current metal container with lighter durable canvas. The smaller pouch also creates more room under the seat for carry-on items and offers productivity improvements due to design change.
• Foam Fill – A lighter weight fill from Garnier PURtec in the back of the seats that reduces weight while providing increased Customer comfort.
• Passenger Seat Rub Strips – switching from plastic to aluminum will help with durability, which reduces waste, as well as being recyclable.

In addition to the green plane, Southwest also announced the Nov. 1 kickoff of a more robust onboard recycling program, which is a co-mingled system that will allow the airline to capture more recyclable material and divert it from the waste stream. This 18-month process involved team work from all areas of the Company to implement the program on the ground at its Provisioning Bases and re-working of waste collection procedures in the cabin.

“The initiative by the Southwest Airlines Green Team, Facilities Maintenance, Inflight Department, and Provisioning Department was a truly heroic effort; when you serve nearly 68 cities there are often 68 different ways to implement a program,” Kelly says. “We appreciate the hard work of our recycling vendor, Republic Services, and we are excited to take a very effective recycling program and make it even better.”

The OAG tool allows government departments and health organizations to visualize and model in elapsed time precisely how a disease can spread from any single airport in the world, on any day within the future schedules time-frame as well as which cities and airports could be alerted of potential impact as elapsed time from original departure time increases.

“The world is now truly a global village where it is possible to reach almost any other point on the planet by air within just one day,” said John Weber, Senior Vice President, OAG Aviation. “Flu bugs don’t buy their own tickets; they travel with passengers at the same speed as aircraft. Understanding the logical path of travellers over a global network of connecting flights could be a major milestone in helping to minimize the escalation of any new epidemic.”

The tool also outlines exactly which carriers should be alerted at down-line connection points, which carriers may already be impacted and how many (maximum) passengers could be exposed to a disease as time passes.

“We have been working on this prototype since the first outbreak of the H1N1 virus and are now in a position to engage more fully with organizations to help them with their preparedness plans,” Weber continued. “Our initial discussions with government departments have confirmed our view that there is real value in using our data to predict where a virus may travel over the commercial air lanes. What we bring to the party is the reliability of our global schedules data, our experience with data integration and applications, and a very useful tool that allows planners to visualize the data in terms of global geography. Our technology is very flexible so planners can lift user defined portions of OAG data into an existing work environment.”

The product will contain flight schedules data for all direct flights and connections for every airport around the globe. Each flight is based on actual future flight schedules, and each connection reflects industry standard minimum connect times which vary from carrier to carrier and airport to airport. The application, which allows planners to define and view progressive global connectivity, is a user-friendly tool requiring only a few minutes of explanation. A unique feature of the tool allows planners to define any origin point, and by using a slider bar for elapsed time from origin point departure, lets the user see how far a flu bug could spread in minutes or hours. The tool presents the results either as a graphic display or in data table format that can be exported for further analysis.

The OAG airline schedules database is widely regarded as the most complete and accurate information available, with the most up-to-date direct and connecting flight details of more than 900 airlines and over 3,500 airports.

“We are proud to take part in this innovative, collective endeavour that over time, will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve local air quality through the use of greener fuels,” said Glenn Tilton, ATA Board Chairman and UAL Corporation Chairman, President and CEO. “This transaction promises to be the first of many such green fuel purchase agreements by the commercial aviation industry. It exemplifies the ongoing commitment of airlines and energy suppliers to diversify our fuel sources while contributing to a cleaner environment and adding new jobs to the economy.”

The agreement was signed with synthetic fuel specialist Rentech and Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG), a global provider to airlines and airports of ground, fuel, cargo and airport facility services. The renewable fuel, called RenDiesel, will be produced at the commercial-scale facility that Rentech is developing in Rialto, California, primarily from woody green waste such as grass clippings.

The fuel is expected to have a low carbon footprint and minimal particulate and other emissions, while meeting or exceeding all applicable fuel standards.

The airlines declined to reveal further details of the contract such as the price per gallon they were expecting to pay for the synthetic fuel and whether it would be cheaper or more expensive than the conventional fuel it was replacing.

“This collaborative effort is yet another environmentally friendly initiative that we and the airlines are pursuing at Los Angeles-area airports,” said Gina Marie Lindsey, Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). “It shows what we can accomplish by working together towards a common and necessary goal.”

“The low-emissions profile and near-zero carbon footprint of our renewable RenDiesel will guarantee that the LAX ground service vehicles using this fuel will be among the cleanest and greenest of their kind,” said D. Hunt Ramsbottom, Rentech’s President and CEO. “We expect this agreement to serve as a model for future supply relationships at other airports and for other fuels, including Rentech’s synthetic jet fuel, which was recently approved for commercial airline use.”

In a BNET article last month, Ramsbottom stated that meeting California’s own renewable targets would require the blending in of 75,000 to 100,000 barrels a day of renewable fuel. “It will be a big market,” he said. “We will need to do 100 Rialto-sized plants to have one percent of the market for biomass. And keep in mind that a single [major] domestic airline uses 2.5 billion gallons of jet fuel per year. The challenge is getting to scale.”

The policy is effective for select hotels in Cancun; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. Maarten throughout the coming Fall 2009 travel season.

“Similar to our Promise Program, we continue to look for ways to give customers the confidence to book travel plans without the worry,” said Robin Hayes, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for JetBlue Airways. “According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this will be a near-normal hurricane season. It’s a beautiful time of year to travel and take advantage of some great vacation deals. Our new hurricane policy takes the concern out of the one thing that gives some customers reluctance to book travel to these popular tropical destinations during this time of year.”

According to JetBlue, any customer who has to cancel their Getaways vacation or end it early due to a hurricane, will receive full pre-departure refunds or post-departure hotel and flight credits from the airline – all without incurring cancellation fees.

All a customer needs to do is notify JetBlue within three days of the airline issuing a Hurricane Travel Alert for their vacation destination and prior to boarding the departure flight

Customers who have booked a JetBlue Getaways vacation package to participating hotels between Dec. 8, 2008 and Nov. 8, 2009 for travel between Sept. 1 and Nov. 13, 2009 and who are disrupted by the occurrence of a hurricane may be eligible for The Weather or Not Getaways Protection Policy. To celebrate, JetBlue is currently offering sale packages on Getaways vacations today through Aug. 14.

If a customer has already departed on their Getaways vacation at the time JetBlue issues a Hurricane Travel Alert for their destination, JetBlue will waive the change fees and move the customer to the next available departing flight. Travelers will receive a post-departure hotel credit for the number of nights that they did not use that can be applied to a future JetBlue Getaways vacation at the same hotel.

Additionally, customers will receive a $100 (a) flight credit per person to be applied to another JetBlue Getaways vacation to the same destination city within one year. The customer must change their reservation to an earlier return flight, subject to availability, and request a refund within 14 days of boarding the flight home.

A Hurricane Travel Alert is defined as a travel alert issued by JetBlue in the event a hurricane substantially impacts its flight operations to or from certain destinations. To determine whether a Hurricane Travel Alert is in effect, visit www.jetblue.com and, if a red link labeled “Travel Alert” appears at the top of the page, click on the link. This link will inform customers if the Travel Alert is a Hurricane Travel Alert, and what destinations the alert pertains to during that time.

Always ahead of their time regarding value, service and style JetBlue in 2009 ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Low-Cost Carriers in North America” by J.D. Power and Associates, a customer satisfaction recognition received for the fifth year in a row.

All requests for a refund or credit for a JetBlue Getaways vacation package under The Weather or Not Getaways Protection Policy must be made by calling 1-800- JETBLUE (538-2583), option #3. If located in Mexico, dial 1-800-861-3372; if located in St. Maarten, dial 1-801-365-2583; if located in Bermuda, dial 1-800-884-9616; and if located in Jamaica, dial 1-800-963-3014.

We have all undoubtedly been there before: stranded on a runway, no departure-time in sight – stuffed into a crowded tube in which the temperature is steadily rising with the only silver lining being the promise that the flight will hopefully, eventually take off so that we can remain fastened to our seats suspended 30,000 feet above God’s green earth.

On Tuesday, the Senate Commerce Committee unveiled its version of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 which includes important Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights provisions. Among those provisions:

• Passengers will have the right to return to the terminal after three-hours on the tarmac if the pilot determines this can be done safely.
• While on the tarmac, airlines will be required to provide food, potable water, working restrooms, and reasonable cabin temperature and ventilation.

“This is a major victory for airline passengers,” said Kate Hanni, whose organization has been working for over two years for airline passengers’ bill of rights with a three hour minimum. “But the war isn’t won yet.”

Airline lobbyists are already on the Hill in force fighting against these provisions. If and when these rights are eventually passed by the full Senate, House leaders will still have their say in conference. Despite intense focus over the last two years to persuade key House leaders of the need to impose time limits, the House chose to leave that option to the airlines.

“This would have led to mass consumer confusion – one airline could have a limit of 5 hours, and another airline could have set a limit of 10 hours,” continued Ms. Hanni.

“Our coalition and airline passengers everywhere wish to thank the members and leadership of the Senate Commerce Committee for this important legislation,” said Ms. Hanni. Chief proponents of the three-hour limit were Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME). Chairman Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced the bill on behalf of Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), and the leadership of the Aviation Operations, Safety and Security Subcommittee, Chairman Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND) and Ranking Member Jim DeMint (R-SC).

Other airline consumer-friendly provisions were championed by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator John Thune (R-SD). “It looks to our coalition as though this was a bipartisan, group effort. We’re so pleased that this committee is able to work together and focus on the interests of the flying public,” said Ms. Hanni.

FlyersRights.org has over 25,000 members and is the largest non-profit airline passengers’ rights coalition. For more information, visit www.flyersrights.org.

Alaska Airlines estimates the procedures will cut fuel consumption by 2.1 million gallons annually and reduce carbon emissions by 22,000 metric tons, the equivalent of taking 4,100 cars off the road every year. In addition, they will reduce overflight noise exposure for an estimated 750,000 people living within the affected flight corridor.

Testing began on June 16th on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-700 aircraft during a noncommercial flight. Using satellite guidance technology called Required Navigation Performance (RNP), the plane flew a consistent and controlled approach to Sea-Tac with pinpoint accuracy, reducing flight-path length, ground noise and greenhouse-gas emissions, while saving time and fuel.

“These improved flight procedures at Sea-Tac will help Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air minimize the environmental impact of our flying on the communities we serve,” said Gary Beck, Alaska’s vice president of flight operations. “With FAA approval, we hope the procedures will be available to all carriers and gradually integrated into the Seattle air traffic system. This project could also become a blueprint for expanded use of next-generation technology at more U.S. airports.”

Typically, commercial aircraft approach follow a lengthy approach pattern and series of stair-step descents before landing. Using RNP technology and a continuous descent, also called an optimized profile descent (OPD), aircraft can descend from cruise altitude to an airport runway along a shorter, more direct flight path at low power.

“This effort aligns with the Port of Seattle’s commitment to operate the greenest airport in the nation,” said Mark Reis, managing director of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. “With Alaska and Horizon representing nearly half of the daily operations at Sea-Tac, this program not only benefits our regional environment but also helps the airlines to operate more efficiently at Sea-Tac. We are working closely with Alaska, Boeing and the FAA to ensure these benefits are realized by our community as quickly as possible.”

Alaska Airlines is the only major U.S. air carrier with a completely RNP-equipped fleet and fully trained crews. Alaska is also the first airline approved by the FAA to conduct its own RNP flight validation. Horizon Air’s fleet soon will be fully RNP-equipped as well.

RNP and OPD are part of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, the FAA’s plan to modernize the National Airspace System through 2025. This initiative will increase airspace capacity and efficiency while improving safety and reducing environmental impacts through the replacement of legacy ground-based equipment with new satellite-based technology and aircraft navigation capabilities.

As part of the initial Alaska Airlines RNP operational approval team, Boeing began installing RNP guidance technology on its aircraft in 1994. Currently all Boeing production airplanes are RNP-capable, and solutions are available to upgrade the in-service fleet. The Boeing Company is continuing this pioneering tradition by working with Alaska Airlines, the FAA and the Port of Seattle in implementing RNP solutions and the Greener Skies program for Sea-Tac.

“Boeing is committed to working with Alaska Airlines and the Port of Seattle to increase efficiency in the way their airplanes approach and depart from Sea-Tac and other airports across the country,” said Per Noren, director of Airport Infrastructure for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Using these advanced technology solutions, airlines around the world can save hundreds of pounds of fuel per flight, which is a significant step toward further reducing emissions from aviation.”

Planning and testing of the procedures will continue through the remainder of the year. They will be integrated into Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air’s commercial operations at Sea-Tac pending FAA approval, which the airlines hope to obtain in 2010.

The tool is being tested in a pilot phase (no pun intended) on select websites and has generated over 10,000 flight searches so far. According to booking statistics, 57% of users selected the cheapest/lowest carbon option to pay an average premium of 19% over lowest cost/higher carbon options.

Developed by Global Travel Market (GTM) and The Carbon Consultancy in association with the International Center for Responsible Tourism, the flight search tool offers provides efficiency ratings of both long and short haul fleets used by major airlines, while highlighting lower carbon emitting direct flights versus indirect flights.

The goal: determine and reduce a trip’s carbon footpront before it even takes place.

“We are delighted to be able to demonstrate the value of data products to inform consumer behavior as an alternative to offsetting as a primary consumer solution to air travel emissions,” said Hugo Kimber, CEO of The Carbon Consultancy. “The willingness of consumers to pay a premium in a recession demonstrates that there is stronger than expected demand-led momentum for emissions reduction. The idea of a premium payment bucks previous research trends and highlights the value of simple information tools to drive greater efficiency.

The team is planning to launch a new version of the tool that will provide funds to climate change mitigation projects for every click that users make on the best available option.

“Rewarding behavior in a way that supports climate change projects and supports efficient traveller choice will create a new way of booking flights and demonstrate how the industry can respond to the challenges of its environmental impact without just asking consumers to pay for an offset,” added Kimber.

“The use of this tool is part of our continued commitment to help inform travellers to make better choices for the environment when they travel,” said Dave Simmons, CEO of GTM. “The travel industry has had an undue focus on offsets. This demonstrates the value of education and information in consumer travel choice and takes us beyond the “flying is bad – travel by bike is good” phase of the environmental debate.

“These results demonstrate that when consumers are presented with a credible way of reducing the polluting effect of their flying they will take responsibility and take the greenest option – even when it costs them more,” said Professor Harold Goodwin of the International Center for Responsible Tourism. “This is a much more credible option than buying a carbon offset.

To see the new booking tool in action, check out: http://www.sustainabilityintelligence.com/CarbonResponsible/flysmart.php.

The test was conducted during a normal, scheduled flight from Paris to Miami, using a Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

AIRE is the first large-scale environmental initiative bringing together aviation players from both sides of the Atlantic, with partners including the FAA, the European Commission, Boeing, Airbus, various air navigation service providers and a number of airlines.

“It is critical that the aviation industry works with our air traffic control partners to demonstrate the benefits of NextGen technology today,” said Bob Reding, American’s Executive Vice President – Operations. “By implementing this technology as quickly as possible, we can make real and meaningful strides to reduce our impact on the environment, increase system capacity and reduce air traffic delays.”

AIRE was designed to speed up the application of new technologies and operational procedures that can have a direct impact on reducing emissions and noise pollution, as well as conserving fuel. Part of the project includes gate-to-gate flight demonstrations to test the benefits of technologies that will be used with the FAA’s NextGen air traffic management system.

The American Airlines flight was expected to conduct several fuel conservation measures, including single-engine taxi on departure and arrival, continuous climb out and descent, optimized routing over water and a ‘tailored arrival’. The carrier says that several of these procedures are already key elements of its ongoing Fuel Smart fuel conservation programme. American says it aims to save 120 million gallons of jet fuel this year and reduce its carbon emissions by 2.5 billion pounds (1.13 million tonnes), up from 110 million gallons and 2.3 billion pounds in 2008.

Post-flight data analysis by the FAA, European Commission and the airline will determine the fuel and carbon savings gained on the demonstration flight. The FAA and American will then conduct a two-month trial in Miami to continue testing the next-generation technology and procedures.

For more information, check out: American Airlines – Fuel Smart.

With the announcement of the group’s new publication: The Beginner’s Guide to Aviation Biofuels, ATAG is hoping to better inform industry employees and members of the flying public about this “new age in flight.”

Currently, ATAG is the only global organization representing all parts of the commercial air transport sector.

A new era in air travel

“For the first time we have identified a viable alternative to fossil fuels for commercial aviation. We have seen the age of flying boats, the jet age and the age of democratisation of air travel,” said Paul Steele, Executive Director of ATAG. “In the next few years, we are preparing to enter the ‘biofuels age’ of flight.”

In the last year, the industry has put major focus on the development of sustainable biofuel – a source of energy that could have around an 80 percent reduction in carbon lifecycle emissions compared to current fossil fuel based Jet A-1.

There has been a series of successful test flights, with fuels being trialled from such diverse sources as camelina, jatropha and algae by Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Japan Airlines and Continental Airlines. Further flight tests are being prepared with JetBlue and Interjet in the coming year.

“Those trials were a success from both a safety and a technical viewpoint. We are now expecting at least a small quantity of sustainable biofuels to start being used on commercial flights in the next three to five years.” Steele commented.

Biofuel explained

The Beginner’s Guide to Aviation Biofuels has been published to explain some of the benefits for aviation moving to a new, cleaner, source of fuel.

According to recent industry polls, almost half of those surveyed were unsure of the difference between first and second-generation biofuel supplies, while a whopping 60% are entirely unaware that sustainable aviation biofuels are going to be available in the next few years.

The guide examines the key safety and technical criteria and the testing process currently underway, while also looking at the challenges that remain if the industry is to maximise the potential of biofuels.

“We are now confident that biofuels can be technically used in flight,” continued Steele. “There remain two major complexities: guaranteeing the biofuel we use is sustainable and doesn’t impact on food and water supplies; and ensuring we can get enough to use. The industry has called on governments to support potential biofuel suppliers in developing the necessary feedstock and refining systems until the fledgling sustainable aviation biofuels industry has achieved the necessary critical mass.”

Future outlook

“After all,” commented Steele, “the history of aviation is marked by people achieving extraordinary things, despite the conventional wisdom of the time telling them it couldn’t be done. We feel the same way about the biofuels age of flight.”

What do you think? With the current economy facing the airline industry, tied with the push to eliminate fossil fuel spanning all industries, will biofuel be as much of a welcome success as Steele suggests?