Heathrow and Heston Blumenthal Launch "The Fly Up" Biofuel Breakfast

Heathrow teams up with The Perfectionists’ Café to debut "The Fly Up," a breakfast initiative to promote Sustainable Aviation Fuel awareness, targeting Net Zero by 2050.

Heathrow Airport, in a pioneering collaboration with The Perfectionists’ Café by renowned chef Heston Blumenthal, has launched "The Fly Up," a unique biofuel breakfast, to increase awareness and understanding of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) among travelers. This innovative move is part of Heathrow's broader strategy to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, with SAF identified as the primary driver of this ambitious goal.

Despite SAF's critical role in reducing the aviation industry's carbon footprint, only 14% of travelers are aware of its benefits. Heathrow is determined to change this narrative by introducing "The Fly Up," a breakfast cooked with oil that is later recycled into renewable biofuels, including SAF. This initiative is a practical demonstration of how the aviation sector can reduce its environmental impact through innovative practices.

Heathrow's commitment to sustainability is evident in its operational changes, including the transition of over 95% of its diesel fleet to HVO biodiesel. The airport is a leader in SAF usage, setting a goal for 11% of its jet fuel to be derived from SAF by 2030. This effort is supported by a scheme that makes SAF more affordable for airlines, contributing to Heathrow's position as a significant consumer of SAF globally.

To further its Net Zero ambitions, Heathrow has set science-based targets for reducing carbon emissions both in the air and on the ground. These targets align with the 1.5-degree carbon reduction trajectory and have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, making Heathrow a trailblazer in the aviation sector.

The "Fly Up" breakfast serves not only as a delicious meal option for travelers but also as an educational tool to spotlight the importance of SAF in achieving a more sustainable aviation industry. In partnership with waste management service Quatra, used cooking oils from the breakfast are collected, cleaned, and recycled into biofuels, demonstrating a circular economy in action.

To complement these efforts, Heathrow is encouraging passengers to contribute to aviation's sustainability through the CHOOOSE platform, which allows travelers to support SAF and reforestation projects regardless of their airline or destination.

Industry leaders, including United Airlines, have commended Heathrow's initiative, recognizing the vital role of SAF in reaching net-zero carbon emissions. With significant investments and incentives for using cleaner fuels, Heathrow is leading the charge towards a more sustainable future for aviation, underscoring the importance of supportive government policies for SAF adoption and investment.

As the aviation industry embarks on its transition to Net Zero, Heathrow's innovative approaches, like "The Fly Up" breakfast, set a precedent for integrating sustainability into every aspect of air travel, making a positive impact on the planet and encouraging passengers to partake in this transformative journey.