Japan Airlines Corporation is planning to fly Asia’s first commercial jet flight powered by second-generation biofuel. The Japan Airlines experimental flight, to take place by March 2009, is a part of an international campaign to cut carbon dioxide emissions from aviation.

For the historic biofuel flight without any passengers at all, Japan Airlines will use a Boeing 747-300 aircraft with the Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines.

A statement from Japan Airlines said: “The highest levels of safety will be adhered to throughout the whole biofuel flight demonstration process. Boeing will conduct a preliminary biofuel screening evaluation after which the best performing biofuel will be selected by the end of August 2008.”

Conventional jet fuel will be mixed with second-generation biofuel produced from non-foodstuffs to power one of the four engines of the Boeing 747-300. The type of biofuel or ratio of the mix is yet to be decided.

Japan Airlines will also become the fourth airline worldwide to make a flight powered by biofuel, after British airline Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, and Continental Airlines.

Japan Airlines, the largest carrier in Asia, is based in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan, and operates scheduled and non-scheduled international and domestic services. Its main bases are Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport, Tokyo.

Haruka Nishimatsu, president and chief executive of Japan Airlines, was quoted as telling a news conference in Tokyo: “I believe that we can help promote the development of biofuels and contribute to the path for their practical use. It is problematic to depend on petroleum-based fuels also in terms of sustainability.”

The statement from Japan Airlines said details such as the source of the biofuel and the route of the demonstration flight will be decided by August 2008.

Media reports have said that the United States-based aircraft maker Boeing has previously been considering algae as a source of biofuel.

According to experts, aircraft maker Boeing and engine maker Pratt & Whitney have specifically opted to use a second-generation biofuel that has proved to be more efficient and sustainable than first-generation biofuels. Second-generation biofuels, it is deemed, do not compete with natural food or water resources and do not lead to deforestation.

While first-generation biofuel sources – such as corn and soybeans derivatives – require large areas of landmass and are food crops predominately grown for human consumption, in the case of second-generation biofuels, food and fuel do not clash directly for the same natural resources, the experts argue.

Of late, Japan Airlines has resorted to vigorous efforts at cost-cutting in order to cope with rising costs of fuel.

The carrier has announced that it has achieved a 16% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.