Thomson Airways operate first UK biofuel passenger flight from Birmingham Airport‏

Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport (right) congratulates Carl Gissing
of Thomson Airways on the airline's, and UK's, first passenger biofuel flight
Thomson Airways Boeing 757-2G5 G-OOBN operated the first ever
UK sustainable biofuel passenger flight from Birmingham Airport
on Thursday 6 October 2011
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Flight TOM7446 which departed to Arrecife, Lanzarote, the Canary
Islands, at 1425 carrying 232 passengers using a bend of A1 jet fuel
with Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) fuel

.
Paul Kehoe, Birmingham Airport’s CEO, said, "We’re always seeking
new opportunities to work with partners and reduce our carbon
footprint so we’re very pleased to be involved in something which
has the potential to significantly reduce aviation’s impact on the
environment in the future"

.

Birmingham Airport is supporting the operation through the
provision of a dedicated fuel truck, independent technical
support and storage infrastructure

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Chris Browne, Thomson Airways Managing Director, says:
"This is a very exciting day for Thomson Airways and a further
step in our commitment to invest in sustainable aviation biofuel.
We firmly believe the adoption of sustainable biofuels by airlines
will help achieve the Government’s carbon budget which commits
the UK to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% by 2025. Most
strikingly, sustainable biofuel has the potential to reduce aviation
emissions by up to 80% in the long term"

.

The sustainable biofuel used by Thomson Airways is supplied
by Dutch-based company SkyNRG, which is advised by an
independent Sustainability Board consisting of two leading
NGOs and a leading Government scientific institute
.
Dubai based company, Platinum Fuels, which recently launched
its first UK base at Birmingham Airport, was chosen as the fuel
handler for this biofuels programme. Its CEO, Tim Collins, said,
"To be involved in the UK’s first commercial sustainable jet fuel
operation is very exciting for us, particularly having only launched
our UK base this year. We look forward to working with all the
partners involved in the project"
.
Daily Thomson Airways biofuels flights will start from early
2012 from Birmingham Airport for approximately six weeks. As
sustainable biofuels become more commercially viable, the airline
plans to expand its use of sustainable biofuels across its fleet
.

Platinum Fuels Limited provide a wide range of services to the
aviation industry, ranging from fuel facility design, equipment
specification, project management, and full operation of airport
storage facilities and into-plane activities. They are headquartered
in Dubai with offices in the UK, South America, Europe and the
Asian sub-continent

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SkyNRG’s mission is to help create the market for sustainable
and affordable aviation fuel. They deliver a full "feedstock to
flight" proposition powering structural "sustainable routes"
across the world whilst doing everything possible to keep it
affordable for the customer by smart supply and partner strategies

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Thursday 6 October 2011

Platinum Fuels commences airline fuelling operations at Birmingham Airport

New aviation fuel company, Platinum Fuels Limited, has

commenced airline fuelling operations at Birmingham Airport

The Dubai based company has been founded by a group of
ex-major oil company aviation fuel experts who have over
60 years of expertise and experience behind them working
in the global aviation industry

Platinum Fuels is currently active in a variety of global territories
but Birmingham Airport is their first foray into the UK market

Tim Collins CEO of Platinum Fuels said, "We are acutely aware
of the important role that Birmingham Airport plays as a viable

alternative to London's congested airports and there is a potential
for growth here that is unique within the UK aviation sector"

"The Birmingham Airport management team has demonstrated
their commitment to developing a world-class airport, targeting
unrivalled levels of customer service while being sensitive to the
needs of the community. Platinum Fuels share similar ideals and
we are delighted that our inaugural operating facility in the UK has
been launched at such a high-profile and forward-thinking airport"

Rob Cooke, the Airport's Head of Aerodrome Operations, said,

"The arrival of Platinum Fuels into Birmingham gives more choice
to airlines and offers a high quality product with competitive
pricing. With the forecast growth expected at Birmingham
in the coming years, particularly in the long haul market,
we expect Platinum Fuels to have a successful operation
and we're proud to be the UK launch pad for the company"

This is Birmingham Airport's third on-site aviation refuelling
company now available to airlines
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Tuesday 28 June 2011