Lufthansa first to use biofuel on commercial flights

Lufthansa is to begin a six-month trial of biofuel next April with an Airbus A321 on scheduled commercial flights on the Hamburg-Frankfurt-Hamburg route.

Pending certification, one of the aircraft's engines will use a 50-50 mix of biofuel and traditional kerosene.

The primary purpose of the project is to conduct a long-term trial to study the effect of biofuel on engine maintenance and engine life.

During the six months trial, Lufthansa will save around 1,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions, said Lufthansa CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber.

"Lufthansa will be the world's first airline to utilise biofuel in flight operations within the framework of a long-term trial," said Mayrhuber.