Sustainable Aviation Fuels: The growing momentum behind aviation decarbonisation

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) are moving from ambition to action and airports, airlines and businesses that engage early will be best placed to lead aviation’s decarbonised future.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) are not a new concept. They have been safely used in commercial aviation for over a decade and are produced from renewable materials such as waste oils, agricultural residues and other non fossil sources. 

Their key advantage is impact without disruption. SAFs can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 70 - 80% compared with conventional jet fuel, while being fully compatible with today’s aircraft and fuel infrastructure. As global air travel grows and the pressure to decarbonise intensifies, SAFs provide one of the most practical and immediately deployable solutions available to the aviation sector. 

Over the past six months, momentum behind SAFs has accelerated markedly, driven by regulation, investment and commercial demand. What was once a long-term aspiration is now becoming a core component of aviation decarbonisation strategies. 

SAF momentum: what has changed?

For many years, SAFs were viewed as a future solution rather than an operational reality. That position has shifted decisively. Around 230,000 tonnes of SAF were used during 2025, reflecting tangible progress as the UK advances towards net zero. 

Recent developments driving this surge include:

• New UK and EU mandates requiring increasing levels of SAF use
• Non-aviation businesses actively stimulating SAF demand through procurement and logistics decisions
• Airports differentiating themselves through ambitious SAF strategies
• Airlines adopting SAF ahead of regulatory requirements, signalling long-term commercial commitment
• Incentive schemes and funding designed to narrow the price gap between SAF and conventional fuel

Together, these factors indicate a clear direction of travel. SAFs are transitioning from early adoption into mainstream decarbonisation planning across the aviation ecosystem.

Policy progress: the SAF mandate

The UK’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate came into force on 1 January 2025. It requires:

• 10% of all jet fuel to be SAF by 2030
• A minimum 40% greenhouse gas emissions reduction for any SAF used
• Certificates to be awarded based on verified emissions savings
• A pathway delivering up to 6.3 megatonnes of carbon savings annually by 2040

The Transport Select Committee has reinforced this policy direction, stating that SAFs are the most viable short term option to reduce aviation emissions. The EU’s equivalent mandate begins at 2% SAF in 2025, rising to 70% by 2050, ensuring broad alignment between UK and European markets and providing long-term certainty for investors and operators.

Airport activity: different challenges, different responses

The SAF mandate is designed to increase the use of SAFs in flights departing from the UK, forming a central pillar of the government’s Plan for Change. However, airports face varying operational and commercial challenges when it comes to SAF deployment, resulting in unequal progress across the sector. 

Some airports are moving significantly beyond minimum compliance, while others face practical constraints. These include reliance on fuel delivery by road tankers rather than pipelines, limited local supply and airline mixes dominated by low-cost carriers with heightened sensitivity to fuel price increases. Each of these factors can make SAF adoption more complex and costly.

Heathrow: moving beyond compliance

In February 2026, Heathrow announced a target of 5.6% SAF use in 2026, exceeding government requirements. This equates to approximately 350,000 tonnes of SAF, supported by an £80 million airline incentive scheme.

If delivered, the programme could reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by around 600,000 tonnes in 2026. This marks a clear shift in Heathrow’s role, from passive fuel infrastructure provider to active enabler of decarbonisation.

Bristol Airport: early leadership

Bristol Airport has also demonstrated early leadership. Air BP completed the airport’s first delivery of SAF and in March 2024 Jet2 announced that it would begin using SAF at Bristol almost a year ahead of the government mandate. 

Alongside fuel initiatives, the airport has invested in terminal decarbonisation, including a new energycentre replacing gas boilers with low-carbon heating. These combined measures position Bristol Airport as an early enabler of lower-carbon aviation and support its wider 2030 net-zero ambitions.

Beyond Aviation: growing corporate demand for SAF

Momentum behind SAFs is no longer driven solely by airlines. Wider corporate action is accelerating demand. 

 In February 2026, Bentley Motors committed to using 100% certified SAF for airfreight movements, reflecting a broader trend of businesses influencing aviation decarbonisation through procurement strategies, logistics contracts and fuel purchasing decisions. This shift highlights a critical development: SAF demand is being driven by the entire business ecosystem, not just aviation operators. For airports and fuel suppliers, this creates new commercial opportunities alongside regulatory obligations.

Why Momentum Is Building Now

Three forces are accelerating SAF adoption:

1. Regulatory certainty: Clear UK and EU mandates provide long term demand visibility, giving producers and investors the confidence to scale SAF production.
2. Incentives and funding: Government support and airport led incentive schemes (such as Heathrow’s £80 million initiative) help reduce project risk and narrow the cost differential with conventional fuel.
3. Corporate and reputational pressure: Businesses face increasing scrutiny over aviation emissions, particularly where travel or freight is material. This is driving proactive SAF adoption across operations and supply chains.

Costs and commercial implications

While SAFs deliver significant emissions reductions, cost and supply challenges remain:

• SAF currently costs two to five times more than conventional jet fuel
• Increased fuel costs can affect ticket prices and corporate travel budgets
• Organisations need clear strategies to integrate SAF into broader sustainability frameworks

At the same time, the UK SAF mandate is expected to support thousands of skilled jobs, stimulate the domestic green industry and strengthen the UK’s position as a clean energy leader. As production scales, costs are expected to fall and availability to increase, unlocking new investment and development opportunities.

The future: pathways to 100% SAF

The SAF market continues to evolve and long term targets will be reviewed as production capacity and technology develop. 

Research into 100% SAF powered flight is ongoing, supported by international initiatives such as the US SAF Grand Challenge, which aims to scale production to three billion gallons by 2030.

While challenges remain, SAFs are clearly positioned to play a central role in aviation decarbonisation in the short to medium term.