SAF Production At Only 0.8 Pct Of Aviation Fuel Use Is Disappointing, Says IATA
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 (Bernama) — The global Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production is expected to reach around 2.4 million tonnes in 2026, representing just 0.8 per cent of aviation fuel use and at a cost of of US$4.3 billion to airlines, the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s estimates revealed.
It looks to be another disappointing year for SAF production, given that five years after committing to achieve net zero by 2050, SAF production will only account for 0.8 per cent of airline fuel use this year, IATA director general Willie Walsh said today. The path to meeting 65 per cent of our needs in 2050 is growing more difficult with each year of ineffectively sequenced government policies and oil companies’ manifest lack of interest, he said in a press release issued today.
“The current energy shock should add even more urgency to the development of renewables, including SAF. But we have yet to see either the energy shock, the need to develop energy independence and jobs, or the urgency to mitigate climate change materialise in the incentives needed to create a viable SAF market,” said the director general of IATA, which represents over 370 airlines, accounting for some 85 per cent of global air traffic.
To accelerate the scale-up of SAF, IATA is calling for coordinated action across four priorities, namely expand renewable energy supply to underpin SAF production, ensure sufficient feedstocks and clean energy are available and ensure open access to fuel infrastructure, including pipelines, storage, and airport fuel systems, to enable fair competition and efficient distribution.
Third is to strengthen policy support through effective sequencing of production incentives and investment frameworks that provide certainty and reduce risk before any mandates are imposed.
Lastly, enabling a global SAF market with sufficient volumes at commercially viable prices is critical for the airline's financial and economic sustainability. A book-and-claim system is essential to transform the SAF market from local to global by making it accessible to airlines and SAF producers regardless of their domicile.
“A global SAF market must also be supported by harmonised standards that create enduring rules and fair competition,” it said.
According to the IATA, its passenger survey (April 2026) shows strong and consistent support for decarbonising air transport.
It said 89 per cent of passengers believe the industry should continue reducing emissions even if governments scale back their efforts, and a similar number sees flying as essential and as something that must be made sustainable, rather than restricting its use. “This support is backed by a willingness to act - about two-thirds of passengers (66 per cent) say they are willing to pay more to compensate for emissions, and nearly 88 per cent expect ticket prices to rise as a result of sustainability investments,” it noted.
-- BERNAMA