The first drops of change

A decade ago, SAF was an industry talking point. Today, it is a small but growing reality. In the words of Willie Walsh, director general of IATA: “Every drop of SAF matters, but it’s still just a drop in the ocean.” By the end of last year, a cluster of pioneering airlines had moved beyond one-off publicity stunts to regular, operational use of SAF at select airports. While the global aviation industry still burns nearly 300 million tonnes of conventional jet fuel annually, SAF production reached only a fraction of that. Yet the momentum is unmistakable: governments are mandating blending quotas, producers are scaling up plants and airlines are racing to secure scarce supply. “SAF is our most immediate lever to cut emissions,” added Lauren Riley, chief sustainability officer at United Airlines. “It’s not perfect, but it’s tangible action now.” Europe: The early leaders Europe has emerged as the global testbed for SAF adoption, thanks to strong government incentives and...