Which airline became the first to operate a commercial flight using a biofuel blend in 2008?

Virgin Atlantic operated the first commercial flight using a biofuel blend in 2008. The demonstration flight used a Boeing 747-400 flying from London Heathrow to Amsterdam on 24 February 2008.

The aircraft used a small biofuel blend in one engine, while the remaining engines used conventional jet fuel. The flight was intended to test whether aviation biofuel could be handled safely in an existing commercial aircraft rather than to provide a complete replacement for petroleum-based fuel.

Virgin Atlantic conducted the demonstration with partners including Boeing and General Electric. The biofuel blend was derived partly from plant-based sources, and the trial helped draw attention to the technical and environmental challenges involved in developing sustainable aviation fuels.

The flight did not mean that commercial aviation had immediately switched to renewable fuel. Fuel certification, supply volume, lifecycle emissions, land use, and compatibility with aircraft systems all remained important issues. Modern sustainable aviation fuel programs use more tightly defined standards and larger operational programs.