Virgin Atlantic Makes More Strives Toward Eco Friendly Travel

Virgin Atlantic announced yesterday that it has selected the new Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines to power its Boeing 787-9 fleet of aircraft. The Boeing 787-9, which can carry up to 290 passengers depending on the bed or seat layout, brings a step change in aviation and will substantially reduce the industry’s impact on the environment. Virgin is also forming a a new environmental partnership with Rolls-Royce, in which both companies will work together to continually lower fuel burn and emissions. PSFK was on hand at the IAC building in NYC to hear the announcement from Sir Richard Branson.

Virgin Atlantic has chosen the cleanest possible engines for its more fuel-efficient future with the 787 Dreamliner. Rolls-Royce engines will help us cut emissions per flight by nearly 30% as we pursue our goal to become the most sustainable airline in the world. Our new environmental partnership will also bring major benefits to the aviation industry, as we work together to deliver the most efficient engines in the sky, and continuously improve the fuel burn of our fleet of aircraft, said Sir Richard Branson.

The engine announcement comes at the heels of Virgin’s successful biofuel demonstration flight of a Boeing 747-400 from Heathrow to Amsterdam. Critics have said that using biofuel in aircraft would be difficult since the fuel tends to freeze at low altitudes. Virgin reached a cruising altitude of 25,000 feet.

Virgin also announced another partnership with General Motors to use it’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Equinox vehicles for it’s complimentary ground transfer service for upper class passengers. Beginning later this month (in March), Virgin will use three zero-petroleum, zero-emission Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicles, fueled with hydrogen, as ground transportation shuttles, running to and from the airport serving the Los Angeles area. The partnership opens the door to possible future activities between Chevrolet and Virgin, involving the same type of service for New York. In addition, the relationship will help build awareness of environmentally friendly technologies and their sustainability.

Our mission to be the sustainable airline is clear, both on the ground and in the air. Partnerships such as this with General Motors show that we are pioneering in the aviation industry when it comes to reducing emissions at every stage of our passengers’ journey, said Sir Richard Branson.