United
Airlines has launched the first commercial flight in America powered
partly by biofuel. The flight used a blend of algae-based biofuel and
petroleum jet fuel to travel from Houston to O’Hare International
Airport this week. The flight flew to Chicago in a Boeing 737-800
displayed the United “eco-skies” logo. According to officials at United,
biofuels would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85% compared to
petroleum-based jet fuel. Continental Flight 1403 arrived in Chicago
shortly before 1 p.m. Monday with 150 passengers and six crew members.
Alaska Airlines and a sister Horizon Air will begin flying commercial
passenger flights using biofuels today. Their blend uses 20% biofuel
from used cooking oil.
