AC to conduct first flight with sustainable biofuel

Air Canada will operate its first flight with biofuel today (June 18) to highlight its commitment to the environment. Flight AC991 from Toronto to Mexico City is expected to generate at least 40% fewer emissions by using jet fuel derived from recycled cooking oil and through other fuel-saving measures, making it the most environmentally friendly flight ever flown by Air Canada. The flight is supported by Airbus and is part of an environmental demonstration by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to coincide with the Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Air Canada fully accepts its responsibility to reduce its footprint and our first flight using biofuel tangibly demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the environment. Since 1990 our airline has become 30% more fuel efficient and we are determined to increase these gains through cutting-edge measures such as those being showcased with this Toronto-Mexico City flight, our greenest ever,”said Duncan Dee, executive vice-president and chief operating officer at Air Canada. “The flight, supported by Airbus, will link with other biofuel flights from Canada to Rio de Janeiro arranged under the auspices of ICAO to underscore the aviation industry’s commitment to the environment at the UN sustainability conference.”Today’s AC991 will be a normal revenue flight operated with an Airbus A319 aircraft using a 50/50 mix of regular and biofuel derived from recycled cooking oil. This blend produced by SkyNRG has been recertified to normal jet fuel standards and can be safely used without modifying the aircraft’s systems.