World’s first profitable gas-to-liquid fuel flight

DALLAS – Today, in 2009, Qatar Airways (QR) operated the world’s first revenue flight using “Gas-to-Liquid” (GTL) jet fuel.

The flight was the second synthetic fuel-powered flight after Airbus deployed an A380 between Bristol (BRS) and Toulouse (TLS).

Flight QR076, operated by an Airbus A340-600, departed from London Gatwick (LGW) to Doha (DOH) with a full load of passengers and members of the consortium that developed the fuel, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Shell, and QR as well as international media and QR CEO Akbar Al Baker.

The development of synthetic fuels was first demonstrated at the Dubai Air Show in November 2007 by a consortium consisting of QR, Qatar Petroleum, Shell, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Qatar Science & Technology Park and Woqod (Qatar Fuel Company).

A milestone

Mr Al Baker said at the time: “Qatar Airways is proud to be part of this consortium and to be the first airline in the world to use this new fuel technology on a commercial passenger flight. This milestone flight is the first step in that direction.” This alternative fuel is available to airlines. Qatar Airways looks forward to continuing to work with consortium members to further develop this exciting project and work towards a cleaner environment.”

All four of the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines were powered by a 50:50 mix of GTL and Jet A1 kerosene. The fuel developed by Shell was the latest step in over two years of scientific work on the benefits of using GTL fuel to power passenger flights.

On February 8, 2021, Shell used the fuel again to support aviation on the path to net-zero emissions. This time it powered a KLM (KL) Boeing 737-800 from Amsterdam (AMS) to Madrid (MAD).