Qantas complete 50/50 biofuel flight

Australian airliner Qantas have completed the countries first biofuel flight, with an Airbus A330 flying from Sydney to Adelaide on a biofuel composition of 50/50.

The composition was 50 per cent recycled cooking oil and 50 per cent regular jet fuel, with the airline highlighting that a 100 per cent biofuel flight is still some way off.

However, flights such as this are crucial steps in the right direction, with many observers looking to the aviation industry to lead the way for biofuel consumption.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said: "We need to get ready for a future that is not based on traditional jet fuel or frankly we don't have a future.

"And it's not just the price of oil that's the issue – it's also the price of carbon."

Mr Joyce pointed out that Qantas will become one of the only airliners in the world that will face liabilities in three jurisdictions, making such efforts a matter of urgency. The European Union recently introduced controversial plans which will add significant amounts of taxation to airliners that pollute EU air.

New Zealand also has a carbon tax that applies to flights within that country by Qantas' budget carrier Jetstar, and Australia's tax on carbon emissions comes into force on July 1.

Posted by Claire Manning