Virgin's Branson to shun thirsty 4-engined planes

By Pete Harrison

LONDON (Reuters) - Virgin Group boss Richard Branson said on Friday he would aim to avoid buying fuel-thirsty four-engined airplanes in future to curb fuel costs and the environmental impact of his fast-growing airlines.

Fears that CO2 emissions from airlines are fuelling climate change will not reduce demand for air travel, he added, but innovation in biofuels could provide a solution in the next decade.

Virgin Atlantic's VA.UL fleet of 38 planes all have four engines, and it has six four-engined Airbus A380 (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) superjumbos on order.

But in April the airline said it was buying 15 of Boeing's (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) new fuel-efficient carbon-composite 787 Dreamliner jets with two engines, which burn 27 percent less fuel than the Airbus A340s they will replace.

"Global warming has become a priority, but it also makes good economic sense to be eco-friendly," Branson told reporters, adding he favored two-engined jets for the future. "We've just announced the 787, which has two engines."

In the past Branson favoured four-engined planes because he said passengers, staff and pilots preferred them.

But aviation's impact on the environment has become a hot topic in Britain this summer, with climate change protesters camping at London's Heathrow airport to protest against the industry's rapid expansion.

DIRTY BUSINESS