European aviation associations, including airlines, airports, civil aeronautics industry, and air navigation service providers, are urging EU policymakers to bolster efforts in developing a leading sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry.
This call comes in response to the inclusion of SAF as a ‘strategic net zero technology’ under the EU Net-Zero Industry Act, emphasizing its pivotal role in achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The recent recommendation to update the 2040 climate targets by the European Commission underscores the importance of addressing barriers to SAF deployment at scale. Priority access to feedstocks and incentives to bridge the price gap between sustainable aviation fuel and conventional kerosene are highlighted as crucial measures.
SAFs are deemed essential for accelerating decarbonization in European aviation, aligning with the bloc’s ambitious climate agenda.
To position Europe as a leader in the global competition for SAF, additional policy incentives are deemed necessary.
These include extending the sustainable aviation fuel flexibility mechanism beyond 2034, extending the current threshold and time-limit under the SAF allowances mechanisms, and increasing financial support for SAF development, including through the Innovation Fund.
Simplifying administrative procedures for accessing these funds is also emphasized to facilitate scaling up production and uptake of sustainable aviation fuels.