LAN Airlines and Air BP Copec demonstrate commercial flight using biofuels

LAN Airlines and Air BP Copec have joined together to conduct a commercial flight demonstration between the Chilean cities of Santiago and Concepcion, using biofuels.

An Airbus from the A320 family with CFM56-5B motors was powered with fuel from refined vegetable oil and illustrates a positive step towards sustainable commercial use of biofuels in South America.

Second generation biofuels do not emit any additional CO2 when used in flight, which means that they are more atmospherically friendly than current non-renewable fuels.

The airline industry has set itself the goal of neutralising the growth of emissions by 2020, with the aim for these to reduce by 50% by 2050. It has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by over 50% over the last 40 years.