Alaska Airlines is to launch a biofuel-powered commercial service in the US, its maiden flight leaving Seattle, bound for Washington D.C.

The Boeing 737-800 jet, carrying 154 passengers, will be powered by a blend of 60% traditional petroleum-based jet fuel and 40% aviation biofuel made from algae.

The flight is part of company’s plan to begin 75-passenger flights along with its sister airline, Horizon Air, over the next few weeks which will be powered by biofuel.

The company estimates the 20% biofuel blend in the flights will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 10%.

Aviation biofuels broker SkyNRG was supplied the fuel made by Dynamic Fuels, a $170m joint-venture between Tyson Foods and Syntroleum.

Solazyme teamed with Honeywell technology to develop the algae oil which was refined into jet fuel for the flight.