The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) applauds Air Canada’s first biofuels powered flight. The commercial flight between Toronto and Mexico City that took place June 18, 2012 was fueled by a 50/50 mix of biofuels derived from recycled cooking oil and traditional jet fuel.

According to a release from Air Canada, yesterday’s flight was supported by Airbus and was flown in conjunction with an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) environmental demonstration ahead of the Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

"We are proud to say that Canada’s national airline is now a world leader in environmental performance," said CRFA president W. Scott Thurlow. "Running commercial flights on a high renewable fuels blend means fewer GHGs in our atmosphere and a lower carbon footprint for air travel. Both Air Canada and Airbus should be applauded for their efforts to adopt renewable fuels into their operations."

The biofuel, produced from recycled cooking oil, was supplied by SkyNRG and is certified to meet jet fuel standards. Like most biofuels, this fuel can be used safely in the Airbus’ engines without any required modifications.

Founded in 1984, the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote the use of renewable fuels for transportation through consumer awareness and government liaison activities.