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The Conversation
The Conversation
Environment
Gareth Dale, Reader in Political Economy, Brunel University London

Why the world's first flight powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel is a green mirage

Virgin Virgin Atlantic United States Boeing Oil Heathrow Neste JFK New York the White House
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner landing at Heathrow international airport in London. Fasttailwind/Shutterstock

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner is set to take off from Heathrow on November 28 and head for JFK airport in New York, powered by so-called sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). According to its operator, Virgin Atlantic, the world’s “first 100% SAF flight” will mark “a historic moment in aviation’s roadmap to decarbonisation”.

It is proof of concept, we are led to believe, of the dawn of “guilt-free” flying. Unfortunately, we have been here before, and the results last time were anything but green.

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