Airlines expand hunt for biofuel

Airlines are intensifying their search for alternative fuels to make flying more affordable and environmentally friendly for the long haul. An early test of the commercial and technical viability of one such biofuel took place in the skies above Auckland. Air New Zealand, the main New Zealand carrier, staged a successful test flight using oil derived from jatropha, a weed that can grow in arid conditions and produces inedible oil. Continental Airlines will conduct a test flight powered by a blend containing algae and jatropha, the first biofuel flight by a commercial carrier using algae as a fuel source and the first biofuel-powered demonstration flight of a U.S. commercial airliner. (December 31, 2008)

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