Thai Airways to fly first biofuels commercial flight

Thai Airways says it will be the first airline in Asia to fly a commercial passenger flight powered by biofuels, when its plane takes off on 22 December, travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

The airline will also fly a non-commercial flight the day before under the airline’s ‘travel green’ scheme which it is operating under part of its corporate social responsibility programme.

The plane will be a Boeing 777-200 aircraft and people from various organisations such as PTT, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, Department of Civil Aviation, Rolls Royce, and Boeing will be there to see the aircraft takeoff.

Money made from the commercial flight is to be donated towards further renewable energy research in Thailand and the company has invited around 100 students and teachers to join them on the flight.

In the past, support for biofuels has been given to Thai Airways from petroleum producers, research firms, educational institutions, aircraft and engine manufacturers, and different government bodies affiliated with the aviation industry.