As the European aviation sector will be obliged by the European Parliament to use 70% of mandatory Sustainable Aviation Fuels by 2050, the industry players are now issuing a call for accelerated policy support to unlock the full decarbonisation potential of the fuel.
On 17 July 2025, the aviation industry – represented by the DESTINATION 2050 partners, fuel suppliers (Fuels Europe, Hydrogen Europe, Project SkyPower), and cargo and express delivery operators (European Cargo Alliance, European Express Association) – released a joint call regarding the matter. According to the sector, the affordable SAF deployment across Europe is meeting many challenges.
At the moment, HEFA‑based fuels (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) are the only commercially available option. However, compared to conventional kerosene, these fuels represent a substantial cost increase. While the next generation of Sustainable Aviation Fuels is underway, including e‑SAF and advanced biofuels, their development struggles to find investors. Reaching Final Investment Decisions (FID) in particular proves to be difficult.
“By setting SAF mandates, ReFuelEU Aviation provided the ‘sticks’ needed for legal certainty, but failed to provide the ‘carrots’ – namely, the financial incentives and flexibility mechanisms required to ensure SAF is produced at scale and at competitive prices. Today, the industry has come together to present a 10‑point plan to address this imbalance. It is now crucial that the Commission moves swiftly to create the supportive policy environment needed to develop Europe’s SAF market. Only then can we remain globally competitive and achieve our shared goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Stefan Schulte commented, ACI EUROPE President and CEO of Fraport.
The 10‑point action plan presented by the industry players addresses these disadvantages and catalyses the scale‑up of SAF production and deployment. According to the plan, some regulatory and financial measures are needed to de‑risk investment, allowing to bridge the significant cost gap, which is needed to decarbonise air transport. New instruments to overcome market failures should be established, greater regulatory certainty should be created, and existing instruments should be built upon by the European Commission.
“ReFuelEU Aviation is the backbone of Europe’s SAF strategy, but its success relies on swift, coordinated action to resolve the remaining investment and implementation barriers. SAF is no longer a distant solution, it is a reality that must scale now. It presents the opportunity to improve the EU’s energy security, strengthen its economic prosperity and bolster climate innovation. We urge policymakers at EU and national levels to take immediate action and work together with industry to ensure a timely and robust ramp-up of SAF in Europe. This call for action for SAF should form part of a more comprehensive and dedicated EU aviation & aeronautics strategy (including new aircraft and engine technology, ATM, carbon removals, industrial aspects etc.) to deliver a leading, competitive and sustainable European industry,” the call reads.
The plan was handed over on 17 July 2025 to Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, during a special Implementation Dialogue. With the European Commission soon to unveil its Sustainable Transport Investment Plan in Q3 2025, the 10‑point action plan was released at a decisive moment.
