US-based airline Continental has announced plans to up its commitment to the conversion to more sustainable fuels with a test flight in January.
It will carry no passengers, but will be carried out on a two-engine aircraft, also a first for the aviation industry.
Company chairman Larry Kellner said: “This flight represents another step in Continental’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and identifying sustainable, long-term fuel solutions for the aviation industry.”
The firm has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions, along with its fuel consumption, by 35 per cent since 1997. It is hoped that the research will identify a suitable material that can replace jet fuel.
It was also voted as the World’s Most Admired Airline in a list compiled by Fortune magazine.
Continental is the world’s fifth largest carrier and serves 131 destinations worldwide.
