Almost immediately after removing plastic straws and stirrers from its aircraft, Virgin Australia completed a major biofuel trial at Brisbane Airport.
That’s quite the sustainable week.
Virgin Australia operated 195 domestic and international flights out of Queensland’s capital with a blended biofuel, as part of a joint experiment with Brisbane Airport, the Queensland government and fuel suppliers Gevo, Caltex and DB Schenker.
Airlines are already flying with biofuels – those are big customers. Now for a #Queensland #biofuels industry to supply them – it's on its way!
This morning I was joined by @VirginAustralia's Rob Sharp and @camerondickqld to talk biofuels. #qldpol #aviation pic.twitter.com/py1oPqsQmr
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 11, 2018
As the first trial of its kind to be administered via a traditional fuel system from an Australian airport, the trial, biofuel flights spanned 430,000km and are believed to have reduced the airline’s emission.
Virgin Australia’s Group Executive for Airlines, Rob Sharp, said the trial proved that there’s “great opportunity to develop a thriving, sustainable fuels industry”.
Image: @AnnastaciaMP/Twitter
“The successful completion of the trial at Brisbane Airport is the first important step in ensuring Australian airports and the fuel supply chain will be ready for the regular supply of sustainable fuels in Australia.”
Rob Sharp, Virgin Australia Group Executive for Airlines
Queensland’s Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the trial was a “step forward in a homegrown biofuels industry”.
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