Air China, Boeing complete successful aviation biofuels trial, first in China

In China, Air China with Boeing conducted China’s first sustainable biofuel flight.

The two-hour mainland flight from Beijing Capital International Airport was witnessed by officials from both countries and highlights the viability of using sustainable aviation biofuel sourced in China. PetroChina, working with Honeywell’s UOP, sourced and refined the China-grown, jatropha-based biofuel.

China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) and Boeing also announced an agreement for further study of regional biofuel development. The study results will help support future efforts to establish a sustainable aviation biofuels industry in China, and also form the foundation for an announced renewable energy agreement between the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the NEA.

Air China and Boeing are already working plans for an international flight between the U.S. and China fueled by sustainable biofuel, which will highlight increasing cooperation on renewable energy development between the two countries.