Airbus hopes these attention-grabbing efforts will jump-start competition and collaboration for continued development of alternative fuels. “Testing today will support future second generation bio-fuels,” said the company’s press release. “Fuel and energy are key challenges aviation is facing and for which technology and international research collaboration open up new horizons,” said Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders. Enders cited “cross industry and cross border collaboration” as the key to an “eco-efficient enterprise.”

At a time when the aviation industry is already under great pressure over the impact of aircraft emissions, Airbus’ record-making flight will no doubt spark an alternative-fuel fire.