Virgin Atlantic Airways

Virgin Atlantic Airways in Fortune Rankings

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Change the World 2024

Last November, the airline flew the first transatlantic flight (Heathrow to JFK) to be 100% powered by sustainable aviation fuel—a key step toward reducing the carbon footprint of an industry that creates 2% of CO2 emissions. While SAF is far from a major energy source today—it accounted for only 0.1% of jet fuel used by U.S. airlines in 2022—it is key to 65% of the industry emissions cuts necessary to be carbon-neutral by 2050. Virgin’s move highlighted SAF's viability.