Mexican carrier Interjet has conducted a commercial flight partially fuelled by biofuel between Mexico City and Tuxtla Gutierrez.
The carrier operated the flight - the first of its kind in Latin America - on 21 July.
The Airbus A320 was powered by a blend of 27% biofuel derived from the jatropha crop and 73% ordinary kerosene. The flight to and from Tuxtla Gutierrez consumed a total of 12,716 litres (3,360USgal) of biofuel.
The jatropha used by Interjet was grown in the Chiapas region of Mexico and sent to Honeywell subsidiary UOP in the USA to be turned into jet fuel.
Interjet said it plans to operate more commercial biofuel flights in the coming weeks, but pointed out that the amount of available fuel is "limited".
However, both Interjet and the Mexican government see a future for the country as a biofuel producer. "Mexico has ideal natural conditions to become one of the most important biofuel producers," said Interjet.
The Mexico City-based carrier carried out the flight in conjunction with the government-owned aviation fuel services provider, Airports and Auxiliary Services Agency, which supplies roughly 99% of Mexico's aviation fuel.
Mexico is aiming to produce 700 million litres of biofuel a year by 2020, representing roughly 15% of domestic demand.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
