Tokyo-based Japan Airlines announced today that it's planning a demonstration flight using second generation biofuel, which would be the first such demonstration by an Asian carrier.

The company said it would work with Chicago's Boeing (NYSE: BA) and East Hartford, Conn.-based Pratt & Whitney on the biofuel flight.

In March, Houston-based Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) said it would conduct a biofuels demonstration flight in the first half of 2009 (see Continental Airlines to test biofuels).

And earlier in the year, the U.K.'s Virgin Atlantic completed the world's first biofuel-powered test flight of a commercial aircraft (see Virgin takes off with commercial biofuel test flight).

Japan Airlines said the cellulosic biofuel for its flight would be blended with jet fuel and tested in one of the four engines of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747-300 aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines.

The airline said the short demonstration flight out of an airport in Japan would take place by the end of March 2009.

"Our participation in the search for a viable second-generation biofuel is a clear signal to everyone of our strong commitment to increasing the environmental sustainability of the JAL Group and the airline industry," said Haruka Nishimatsu, president and CEO of Japan Airlines.

"Not only are we endeavouring to reduce our own footprint on the environment, but we are throwing our support and resources behind projects such as this, which will help in the wider battle against climate change and global warming."

The company said it has not yet made a decision on which biofuel to use, but said that second-generation biofuels do not compete with natural food or water resources or contribute to deforestation practices.

Japan Airlines is targeting a 20 percent cut in the carbon dioxide emissions per available tonne kilometers of its fleet by 2010, compared to 1990 levels.

The company said it has already achieved a nearly 16 percent reduction since 1990.