The global air travel industry is expected to experience significant growth, with passenger numbers projected to reach 22.2 billion by 2050, up from 9.1 billion in 2019. As a result, airlines are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and meet regulatory requirements, with many committing to net-zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this goal, the development and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is crucial. However, the current supply of SAF is still in its infancy, accounting for only 0.1% of all aviation fuel use.
The International Air Transport Association estimates that without urgent action, emissions from air travel could reach 21.2 metric gigatonnes per year. To mitigate this, the industry needs to accelerate the adoption of SAF. Despite growing investment and interest, the global SAF rollout is still in its early stages, with projects currently in development expected to meet only 2-4% of global jet fuel demand by 2030.
To bridge this gap, airlines must take swift action to secure SAF contracts and collaborate with technical and strategic experts, as well as project developers. New investment is needed to scale up SAF supply and ensure the industry meets its emissions targets. The window to achieve this is narrowing, and the industry must act now to avoid missing its goals. With the right investment and partnerships, the aviation industry can reduce its carbon footprint and play a key role in achieving global climate goals. However, without urgent action, the industry risks falling behind and failing to meet its commitments to reduce emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.