A Continental Airlines 737 took off Monday from Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport and headed into the history books. Flight 1403, with 154 passengers on board, flew to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport powered with a blend of 60 percent jet fuel and 40 percent biofuel made from algae. It was the first U.S. commercial flight burning what the Chicago-based airline called “advanced biofuel.”
Though the flight sported the United name, it was operated as a Continental flight. The airlines are still integrating their operations.
Solazyme of San Fran- cisco developed the algae oil.
United also said it signed a letter of intent with Solazyme to negotiate buying 20 million gallons of jet fuel yearly with delivery as soon as 2014.
Alaska Airlines announced it plans two biofuel-powered passenger flights Wednesday from Seattle to Washington, D.C., and Portland, Ore. Ann Schrader, The Denver Post; AP photo
