Deep-Fried Flying: Finnair Powers Plane with Recycled Cooking Oil

Yahoo Travel
Updated
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The biofuel was made in part by cooking oil recycled from restaurants. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Got some left over cooking oil in your kitchen? Now you can fly a plane with it.

On September 23, Finnair flew a plane from Helsinki to New York that was powered by environmentally sustainable biofuel. The Airbus A330 was loaded up with the special fuel that was partly manufactured from cooking oil recycled from restaurants. Which makes us wonder, does the exhaust smell like french fries?

And this biofuel comes with added environmental benefits. The recycled cooking oil concoction was provided by SkyNRG Nordic, and significantly reduces net greenhouse gas emissions while also being sustainable in its own right.

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Finnair flew an Airbus A330 using biofuel produced from recycled cooking oil. (Photo: Finnair)

So if it’s better for the environment, why isn’t every airline using it? Finnair first flew with biofuel in 2011 – but at more than twice the price of conventionally produced jet fuel, it is not yet economically viable for any airline to operate with it exclusively.

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President Obama speaking at the UN Climate Summit (Photo: AP)

The biofuled plane landed in New York just in time for the UN Climate Summit, where the airline hopes it will contribute to the ongoing conversation. “The UN Climate Summit is an important gathering to fight climate change,” said Finnair’s Vice President of Sustainable Development Kati Ihamäki. “We wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the climate benefits of more widespread adoption of environmentally sustainable biofuels in aviation.”

Along with its partners, Finnair is also currently investigating the possibility of establishing a biofuel hub at Helsinki Airport.

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