THAI becomes first Asian airline using biofuel

BANGKOK, December 9 (TNA) - Thai Airways International (THAI), the national flag carrier, will soon become the first Asian airline to use biofuel to fly its commercial flights, starting from December 22. THAI President Piyasvasti Amranand confirmed today that THAI will launch its maiden bio-fuel commercial flight in Asia and Southeast Asia, TG104, from Bangkok to Chiang Mai on December 22, 2011 following a non-commercial Boeing 777-200 flight on December 21 on which journalists and representatives from various agencies, namely PTT Public Company Limited (PTT), Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI), the Department of Civil Aviation, Rolls Royce and Boeing, will be invited among the passengers. Piyasvasti said that the new move is under THAI' Travel Green initiative, which is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy in accordance with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's vision on renewable or "green" energy to help ease the global warming problem. According to the THAI president, the national airline will also invite some 100 students and professors to join in its first-ever bio-fuel commercial flight with revenues from the special flight TG104 will go to the development of renewable energy in Thailand. (TNA)