The Dutch airline KLM will operate a demonstration flight on bio-kerosene using Boeing 747 equipment on 23rd November it was announced last week. According to the airline, during the test flight, one of the aircraft engines will be running on a fuel mixture made up of 50% sustainable bio-fuel and 50% traditional kerosene.

"This is an important step on the road to completely sustainable aviation," said KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman. "KLM has joined forces with its partners to vigorously stimulate the further development of alternative fuels. In so doing, we need to rely on the input and support of all the relevant parties: the business community, government and society at large.’’

"In the decades ahead, the airline industry will be largely dependent on the availability of alternative fuels in its drive to lower CO2 emissions," said KLM Managing Director Jan Ernst de Groot, who will present the plans on Wednesday afternoon at the 2009 National Innovation Relay at Valkenburg Airbase.