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Alaska Airlines will fly 75 commercial passenger flights in the United States powered by biofuel, starting this Wednesday. These flights signal aviation's next era, where sustainable biofuels can provide a viable alternative to conventional fuel and enable airlines to reduce their environmental impact.

Air China, Boeing and Chinese and U.S. aviation energy partners today conducted China's first sustainable biofuel flight. The two-hour mainland flight from Beijing Capital International Airport was witnessed by officials from both countries and highlights the viability of using sustainable aviation biofuel sourced in China.  

Boeing, Embraer and the Sao Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP) today announced plans to collaborate on long-term aviation biofuels-related research and development, a move that represents another major step toward the creation of a sustainable aviation biofuels industry in Brazil. Azul, GOL, TAM and Trip airlines will be strategic advisors in the program.

The Carbon Disclosure Project, operator of the world’s only global climate change reporting system, has commended Finnair for its efforts to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve reporting capabilities, and recognize the strategic business risks associated with climate change. 

Air France and Airbus have completed the world’s greenest commercial flight by combining the latest fuel and air traffic management technologies. The flight from Toulouse-Blagnac to Paris-Orly using an Airbus A321 has been able to demonstrate the cutting in half of CO2 emitted compared to a regular flight.

Astrium, Europe’s leading space company, will partner with the European Space Agency (ESA) to design, deliver and operate the European Data Relay System (EDRS).

Iberia and Repsol today staged Spain’s first commercial flight powered by biofuel. An Iberia Airbus A320 flying from Madrid to Barcelona burned some 2,800 kg. of a mixture of 75% conventional A-1 jet fuel and 25% biofuel derived from the camelina sativa plant. The use of the mixture brought a reduction of nearly 1,500 kg. of C02 emissions.

Boeing today announced a research task order award from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to maximize performance-based navigation capabilities across the United States. The FAA initiated a $3.1 million task order for "Greener Skies Initiative 2." 

Boeing and SELEX Systemi Integrati, S.p.A of Italy today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration to work toward compatibility of global air traffic management systems. The companies will seek to cooperate on the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) program and the U.S. Next Generation Air Transportation (NextGen) program.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Australia’s Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism have reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue research and development of clean, sustainable alternative aviation fuels. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Australian Ambassador to the United States Kim Beazley signed the agreement today.

American Airlines today announces the expansion of entertainment on demand – the airline's inflight streaming video product – to approximately 400 Wi-Fi enabled aircraft by the end of 2012. American, a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, was the first North American airline to offer inflight streaming video, which enables customers to wirelessly stream content such as movies and TV shows from an inflight library to select Wi-Fi-enabled laptops during flights.

Embraer and GE held a series of test flights this week, with an EMBRAER 170 jet flying from the Company’s Gavião Peixoto facilities. The purpose of the tests was to benchmark the operational characteristics of the airplane and its GE CF34-8E engines when powered by HEFA (Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids) fuel under a broad range of unique flight conditions. 

United Continental Holdings (NYSE: UAL) today announced it will invest more than  a half-billion dollars in its onboard product as it takes another important step in becoming the world’s leading airline. 

GE Aviation has completed all engine certification testing, including design assurance, development, operability and environmental tests, for its new H80 turboprop engines.

Finnair will today fly the world’s longest commercial flight to date using biofuel. In the next few weeks, Finnair will fly a series of four flights using biofuel in both engines of its aircraft.

Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the hardware and software development of its Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) program is nearly complete. Boeing is working closely with the U.S. Air Force to ensure that the FAB-T program can provide protected wideband satellite communications in support of command and control of U.S. nuclear forces.

Lufthansa has launched the world’s first ever daily commercial passenger flights using biofuel. The four return daily flights between Hamburg and Frankfurt will be the first in the world to use a biofuel blend using 50% Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA).This follows the approval for the use of this type of fuel by the world fuels standards body, the ASTM on July 1st and the publication of the approved standards on July 13th.

Finnair has already for decades made a long-term commitment to sustainable development. Now is the time to take another major step towards sustainable air travel. Finnair aims to fly its first biofuel flight from Amsterdam and Helsinki next week. This will be the longest commercial biofuel flight flown anywhere in the world to date.

The BAe 146 Atmospheric Research Aircraft (ARA) is on a three-week mission to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada where it is carrying a team of researchers who will use its on-board equipment to measure gases and particles emitted by wildfires. During the mission the BAe 146 ARA will be flown daily along the eastern coast of Canada chasing plumes of wildfire pollution.