Japan Airlines(JAL) plans to test a biofuel based alternative for powering its flights as early as 2009.JAl plans to use a mixture of conventional jet fuel and second generation biofuel to power one of the 4 engines in a Boeing with the rest being powered by conventional fuel. Additionally the fuel used will be specifically processed from non edible food products thus avoiding any potential adverse impact on food grains consumption.
Rising fuel prices have hit airlines operating cost, forcing them to look for alternative fuel sources. In February, Virgin Atlantic successfully conducted the world’s first flight of a commercial aircraft powered partially with biofuel — a mixture of coconut and babassu oil in one of its four main fuel tanks. German based Lufthansa also plans a 25% reduction in GHG emissions and biofuel use in its aircrafts by 2010. Finally the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO), in which Boeing plays a leading role, also plans to employ algae for producing a biofuel alternative to jet fuel.
