The UK's Department for Transport (DFT) has announced it has awarded British air carrier Virgin Atlantic 1.2 million dollars in government funding to build the world's first climate-neutral transatlantic flight. The feat is scheduled for 2023 and will take place without passengers on board.

"For decades, flying from London to New York has symbolized aviation's ability to connect people and drive international progress. Now it will be at the forefront of reducing carbon emissions from flying", said the UK's transport secretary Mark Harper.

"Not only will this flight pave the way for future generations, it will demonstrate how much we can achieve when we work together on a shared goal: to bring together some of the world's best businesses and academics and led by a British airline".

The air link between London-Heathrow airport and the "John Fitzgerald Kennedy" one in New York will be operated by a B-787 aircraft, powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Saf, Sustainable Aviation Fuel), instead of the traditional polluting kerosene. This will make it possible to reduce CO2 and other harmful emissions by more than 70% compared to a connection made with an aircraft fueled with normal propellant.