Virgin Atlantic to use green fuels

12/10/11

By Dan Smith

Virgin Atlantic flights could soon offer improved green credentials to UK holidaymakers and business travellers, as part of Sir Richard Branson's plans to introduce more eco-friendly aviation fuels to the company's planes.

In the next two to three years, the firm's planes will start to make use of low-carbon fuel developed by the LanzaTech company.

In order to create the jet fuel, waste gases from industrial steel production will be captured, fermented and chemically converted.

The first flights to benefit from the new innovation are those which will fly between Shanghai and Delhi and Heathrow.

By 2014, it is hoped that the first commercial operation of the new technology will be launched in China.

At present, pilots of the technology are being run in New Zealand, while Shanghai is likely to see a bigger demonstration facility commissioned later this year.

What you do for a living can push your motor insurance costs up, with new research by Confused.com highlighting that occupation can make a huge difference to the premium you pay.