Thomson Airways’ first biofuel flight was greeted by nude environmentalists at the weekend.

Thomson officials said that the first ever commercial biofuel flight from a UK airport was set to make a statement to help encourage the industry and governments to promote alternatives to fossil fuels. But naked protestors could be seen as the Boeing 757 departed the gate at Birmingham airport to deliver a full load of holidaymakers to Lanzorote.

The group, who named themselves Plane Stupid, say that biofuel is not a suitable alternative fuel because rainforests are destroyed to make the products it is derived from. Written in red body paint on their bodies were slogans like ‘Thomson biofuel: bare faced cheek’ and ‘Biofuels aren’t green’.

One of the jet’s engines contained a 50/50 hybrid of traditional jet fuel and a biofuel made from ‘hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids’, which had been processed from chip pan oils collected from restaurants and hotels.

Carl Gissing of Thomson Holidays said that the fuel is still very expensive but that the company would begin its full biofuel campaign next year in the effort of developing alternatives to standard aviation fuels.

However, Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s Joe Peacock said that plant-based fuels still entail large social and environmental problems and that using biofuels was not an effective way to combat the current addiction to fossil fuels.