China Airlines’ new A350 XWB aircraft. Credit: Airbus/A. Doumenjou/master films.

Taiwan-based China Airlines has taken delivery of a new A350-900 aircraft powered by a combination of traditional and sustainable biofuels from Airbus.

The plane flew from Airbus’ delivery centre in Toulouse, France, to Taipei, Taiwan, in a flight that used a 10% blend of sustainable jet fuel.

The delivery represents the inclusion of the second airline to a programme that sees the combination of traditional and sustainable biofuels.

“This reflects our clear commitment to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment and to be among those airlines leading the way to use alternative fuel sources.”

Airbus New Energies head Frederic Eychenne said: “Today’s delivery demonstrates once again that biofuels are a reality today.

“We are moving towards the regular use of new and sustainable energy sources in our industry, helping to meet the commitments of the international civil aviation community.”

Airbus has collaborated with Air Total to carry out the sustainable fuel option programme for delivery flights.

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Air Total has also installed a biofuel station adjacent to the Airbus delivery centre in Toulouse, which has so far delivered a total of 21 aircraft since its opening in May last year.

Airbus is planning to introduce the sustainable fuel option programme for delivery flights to its facilities based in Hamburg, Germany, and Mobile, US.

China Airlines chairman Ho Nuan-Hsuan said: “China Airlines is proud to have taken delivery of its first aircraft to be partially powered by sustainable biofuel.

“This reflects our clear commitment to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment and to be among those airlines leading the way to use alternative fuel sources.

“With the A350 XWB in our fleet, we are already significantly reducing our carbon footprint and we are excited that this can be extended even further with the use of new biofuels.”

The newly received aircraft is the tenth A350-900 operated by China Airlines.