Web exclusive posted March 24, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. CST

Continental Airlines plans to showcase a biofuel demonstration flight in 2009, attempting to reduce their carbon emissions through use of sustainable fuel.

The flight will use a Boeing Next-Generation 737 equipped with CFM International CFM56-7B engines.

The undisclosed fuel provider will work with Continental, Boeing, and General Electric Aviation, to identify sustainable fuel sources that don’t impact food crops, water resources, or contribute to deforestation, said Terrance Scott, a spokesman for Continental.

Continental has achieved a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption per mainline revenue passenger mile flown over the past 10 years, Scott said.

Scott Donnelly, president of GE Aviation, said “we will be working with our jet engine team.” He added, GE has considerable experience working with biofuels in jet engines for aviation, and are eager to get started in the environmentally-friendly effort.

“Exploring sustainable biofuels is a logical and exciting new step in our environmental commitment,” said Mark Moran, executive vice president of operations, at Continental Airlines.

“Continental has been aggressively pursuing efforts to reduce carbon emissions for years,” said Ray Conner, executive vice president of sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Additional details, including flight plan, will be released closer to the date of the flight.