Europe’s mandates for Sustainable Aviation Fuels send a strong demand signal, but won’t unlock new supply on their own. Scaling production requires incentives for producers and a broader feedstock strategy. Without these measures, Europe risks meeting its climate goals by becoming increasingly dependent on imported fuels
The good news: SAF is aviation’s clearest route to decarbonise some of its emissions
As conference season for business leaders gives way to their summer travel period, aviation’s climate problem is back in focus. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) remains the leading solution for cutting emissions, but adoption is still moving slowly. The global SAF blend rate is expected to rise from just 0.6% to 0.8% in 2026. Europe is leading on mandates, but, according to S&P Global, it still risks falling short of its SAF targets in the coming years.
Air travel remains essential for business and consumers alike, but pressure to cut emissions is growing. Sustainable aviation fuel has therefore shifted from being a niche topic to a boardroom priority. Beyond fleet renewal, efficiency gains, and demand measures, they're a practical near-term way to cut aviation emissions. Electric aircraft and hydrogen propulsion may play a role in niche markets, but they will not decarbonise long-haul aviation before 2050. That leaves SAF as the only scalable drop-in option for the coming decades. (....)