Hainan biofuel breakthrough

China’s first transoceanic passenger flight using biofuels touched down successfully at Chicago O’Hare Airport last week as Hainan Airlines completed a 12hr 40min inaugural on its Beijing – Chicago route using the Boeing B787-8.  

Officials said the event provided “a solid demonstration of Sino-US cooperation in terms of environmental responsibility” as a celebration was held on the parking apron at O’Hare International Airport with flight partner Boeing.

Passengers on the flight were invited to take part in interactive events to highlight its environmental significance and to promote a “green travel-carbon offset” public-interest project launched by the airline and the China Green Carbon Foundation. 

Hainan Airlines president Sun Jianfeng, who also served as captain of the flight, said: “Climate change has become a common challenge facing the world, while green and low-carbon development solutions have become an inevitable necessity when it comes to any research and development being undertaken.”

The flight follows China’s first passenger flight with sustainable aviation biofuel, a scheduled service between Shanghai and Beijing in March 2015 in a Next Generation Boeing B737-800.

In November 2011, United Airlines subsidiary Continental Airlines operated the first US commercial flight powered by advanced biofuels, a service between Houston and Chicago also using a B737-800.

www.hainanairlines.com

www.united.com

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