(Virent: Madison, WI) -- In a landmark achievement for the aviation industry, bioforming sugar-to-aromatics (S2A) technology developed by Virent and Johnson Matthey has enabled the first drop-in, 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) trans-Atlantic flight by a commercial airline. This historic flight represents a significant step in the aviation industry’s journey toward a lower carbon future.

100% SAF using bioform synthesized aromatic kerosene (SAK)

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines

The Virgin Atlantic flight was powered entirely by SAF, which was a drop-in replacement for conventional jet fuel but made solely from sustainable feedstocks. This was enabled through the inclusion of a new biobased aromatic jet-fuel blending component.

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