Grant Shapps has announced his plans for a competition to encourage the aviation industry to deliver the world’s first transatlantic flight fuelled purely by environmentally friendly aviation fuel by the end of next year.
The announcement was made during a speech to industry leaders in the US, in which the transport secretary challenged the sector to deliver the net-zero emissions flight between the UK and America.
The flight will be supported by up to £1 million of competition funding made available from 2022 to 2023 to support the testing, research and personnel costs of the flight, which will use 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The competition is open to airlines, fuel producers, aircraft or engine manufacturers and fuel suppliers.
“This trailblazing net-zero emissions flight, a world first, will demonstrate the vital role that sustainable aviation fuel can play in decarbonising aviation in line with our ambitious net-zero targets,...