Jetstar joins the biofuel parade

Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO David Hall stands outside the company's first biofuel-powered aircraft. (Jetstar)

Jetstar has made its first biofuel-powered commercial flight, an hour and 15 minute trip from Melbourne to Hobart on Thursday morning.

The one-off flight came less than a week after Qantas made its own inaugural biofuel publicity flight. Both used the same 50:50 blend of conventional jet fuel and biofuel derived from cooking oil.

Qantas says the flights are designed to draw attention to the need for sustainable alternative fuels. The airline said the carbon footprint of the biofuel flights was about 60 per cent less than conventionally powered flights.

Airlines around the world are pushing a variety of biofuel initiatives as they seek leverage against sustained high fuel prices.

“Fuel makes up around 40 per cent of our costs,” Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO David Hall said. “Investigating alternative fuel sources is not only sustainable environmentally but if financially sustainable would help Jetstar continue to offer low fares and drive new markets.”