Qantas Completes First US-Australia Biofuel Flight

Qantas made the world's first dedicated biofuel flight between the United States and Australia. Qantas QF96 flew from Los Angeles to Melbourne over the weekend. The 15-hour trans-Pacific flight operated with approximately 24,000 kg of 10% biofuel blend, saving 18,000 kg in carbon emissions.

Fuel for the flight was produced from Brassica carinata, a non-edible industrial mustard seed, by AltAir Paramount LLC using Honeywell UOP's Renewable Jet Fuel process technology. The seeds were developed by Agrisoma Biosciences. Qantas established a partnership with Agrisoma to promote Carinata as a crop for Australian farmers, specifically as a renewable feedstock for making commercial aviation biofuel.

Using carinata-derived biofuel can reduce carbon emissions by eighty percent compared to traditional jet fuel. The ten percent biofuel blend used on the flight will therefore see a seven percent reduction in emissions on this route compared to normal operations.