The European aviation community has issued an “urgent call” for “accelerated policy support to unlock the full decarbonisation potential” of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Airlines for Europe, alongside fuel suppliers and cargo and express delivery operators, said the aviation industry faces “pressing challenges” over the affordability of SAF deployment across the continent.
“Chief amongst them is that the current SAF market remains nascent,” said the trade association.
“HEFA‑based fuels (hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids) are the only commercially available option today and face a substantial cost gap compared to conventional kerosene.
“At the same time, next‑generation SAF pathways – such as e‑SAF and advanced biofuels – continue to struggle with access to investment, in particular in reaching final investment decisions.”
The industry has laid out a 10‑point action plan designed to address early‑mover disadvantages and catalyse the scale‑up of SAF production and deployment.
The plan lays out the key regulatory and financial measures needed to de‑risk investment, bridge the significant cost gap and incentivise innovation in fuel technologies critical to decarbonising air transport, Airlines for Europe said.
The initiative comes at a “pivotal moment”, according to Airlines for Europe, as the European Commission prepares to unveil its Sustainable Transport Investment Plan in the third quarter of 2025 – which is expected to provide the support needed to accelerate and deploy SAF and related infrastructure.
