The role of sustainable aviation fuel in creating fossil-free travel

What is IATA?

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade association of the world’s airlines. Founded in 1945, IATA represents approximately 290 airlines, which account for more than 80% of global air traffic. Its mission is to promote safe, secure, and efficient air travel and to advocate for the interests of the aviation industry.

IATA plays a key role in setting standards for aviation safety, security, and environmental sustainability. Through its influence, IATA works with governments, regulatory bodies, and industry partners to create policies that benefit both the aviation sector and its passengers. Additionally, IATA supports airlines in optimizing their operations, improving customer service, and meeting sustainability goals such as achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

What Is Sustainable Aviation Fuel?

Put simply, SAF is a renewable alternative to traditional jet fuel. Made from sustainable sources such as used cooking oil, agricultural residues, algae, and waste materials, SAF significantly reduces carbon output. Unlike fossil fuels, these renewable sources recycle carbon dioxide already present in the atmosphere, reducing the overall environmental impact.

• Compatibility: SAF works seamlessly with existing aircraft and airport infrastructure, requiring no costly overhauls.

• Emission Reduction: SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel (source: IATA).

• Renewable Sources: Produced from materials that don’t compete with food crops or deplete natural resources.

A Global Example:
Neste MY SAF, a widely used type of SAF, is already in use at major airports like Frankfurt, Los Angeles, and Changi. Airlines such as Lufthansa and Delta have incorporated it into their climate-action strategies to reduce their emissions footprint.

Why SAF is a game changer

The aviation industry faces significant challenges in reducing its carbon footprint, with alternatives like electric planes still years away from mass adoption. That’s where SAF comes in! It's a quick, powerful - and scalable - solution that slashes emissions by up to 80%, using the planes and infrastructure we already have.

SAF provides a crucial bridge for the industry, helping to reduce its environmental impact today while new technologies are developed.

1. Immediate Benefits: SAF is ready for deployment today. Unlike electric or hydrogen-powered planes—which are still in development and years away from mass adoption—SAF can work with existing aircraft.

2. Emission Reductions: SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel (source: IATA). Switching to SAF could significantly reduce aviation emissions. For example, a single economy-class passenger flying from London to New York generates over 300 kg of CO2. By using SAF, these emissions could be reduced by more than half.

3. Renewable Sources: Unlike fossil-based jet fuel, SAF relies on renewable feedstocks, creating a more circular economy. Additionally, the use of SAF bypasses many of the environmental and humanitarian concerns associated with fossil fuel extraction.

4. Supports Net-Zero Goals: SAF is expected to contribute 65% of the emissions reductions needed to achieve the aviation industry’s net-zero target by 2050.

The vision for a fossil-free future

The dream of fossil-free aviation is not a lone initiative but a collaborative global effort involving airlines, scientists, governments, and consumers. Here’s how SAF contributes to turning this vision into reality:

• Industry-Wide Commitments: From Virgin Atlantic’s pioneering transatlantic flight powered entirely by SAF to ambitious roadmaps laid out by organisations like IATA, the aviation industry is steadily moving the dial toward decarbonisation.
  
  
• Policy Support: Governments are beginning to roll out comprehensive policies to support SAF. For example, the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard and similar regulations in Europe aim to make SAF more accessible.
  
  
• Consumer Role: With SAF being made available by many travel providers, passengers can also play a role in the transition to a fossil-free future, by driving the demand - by paying a small premium to fly on biofuel - that will drive investment and innovation in SAF.

Challenges beyond SAF

While SAF is a crucial piece of the puzzle, the aviation industry's transition requires addressing other issues such as contrails and eliminating subsidies for fossil fuels. Experts also agree that simply switching fuels won’t suffice—we also need to reconsider the sheer volume of flights. This holistic approach ensures aviation aligns with global warming limits set by the Paris Agreement.

Addressing the non-CO₂ effects of contrails

Beyond SAF, aviation's climate impact is influenced by non-CO₂ effects such as contrails—high-altitude clouds formed by jet emissions. These contrails can have a significant warming effect on the climate, potentially ranging from half to over three times that of CO₂ emissions from aviation. Addressing contrail formation through measures like flight routing adjustments can provide immediate climate benefits.

So what's the issue with contrails? The IATA report "Aviation Contrails and Their Climate Effect" sheds light on how these persistent ice clouds, formed by aircraft exhaust, play a big part in global warming. They can trap heat and reflect sunlight, causing a warming effect that changes with the time of day, altitude, and weather conditions. The report emphasizes the importance of better understanding and tackling this issue with improved forecasting, operational tweaks, and adding humidity sensors on planes to predict and minimize contrail formation and their impact on the climate.

Can SAF help reduce contrails? According to a study published in By the European Geosciences Union's "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics",  using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) was measured to significantly reduce the number of ice crystals in contrails by 56%, leading to a notable decrease in their radiative forcing—a measure of their climate impact. This finding underscores the potential of SAF to mitigate aviation's non-CO₂ emissions and contribute to the industry's efforts to achieve net-zero emissions.

Eliminating fossil fuel subsidies

Eliminating subsidies for fossil fuels is crucial to achieving fossil-free aviation. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) emphasizes that renewable energy producers face significant disadvantages compared to major oil companies due to existing subsidies. These subsidies, which amounted to approximately $1 trillion globally, hinder the scalability of renewable energy and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. Redirecting these funds towards renewable energy initiatives is essential to level the playing field and accelerate the transition to sustainable aviation. (Source: IATA:Policy Shortcomings Puts SAF Production at Risk)

So what's the issue with fossil fuel subsidies? According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), fossil fuel subsidies encourage excessive energy consumption, exacerbate environmental degradation, and divert resources from cleaner energy alternatives. Furthermore, a study on aviation subsidies highlights that these financial supports distort market dynamics, creating unfair advantages for airlines and manufacturers, which leads to inefficient resource allocation. Subsidies can also encourage overcapacity by incentivizing airlines to expand fleets and routes that are economically unsustainable, resulting in unnecessary emissions. Phasing out these subsidies would not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also promote economic efficiency and equity.

Rethinking flight volume

Achieving fossil-free aviation requires more than just technological advancements; it necessitates a strategic reduction in the volume of air travel. The aviation industry must implement demand management strategies to cut down on unnecessary flights, aligning with the Paris Agreement's temperature goals.

Why reduce flight volume? The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, projections indicate that without significant demand reduction, aviation emissions could exceed the carbon budgets necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. According to a study by Chatham House, cutting demand for flights is one of the most effective ways to hit net-zero targets in the short term.