Airlines, pilots and environmental groups are teaming up for the first time to support a European Union plan for big increases in climate-friendly jet fuels.
Major carriers including Air France-KLM, easyJet and Ryanair have joined forces with prominent non-governmental organisations such as Transport & Environment in a “Fuelling Flight Initiative” meant to help advance a key draft EU law.
The legislative proposal from the European Commission would spur aviation’s take-up of renewable energy, which so far has developed much more slowly in this industry than in others including automotive and power.
The Commission’s ReFuelEU Aviation proposal would ensure that the share of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) used in the bloc grows from almost nothing currently to at least 2% in 2025, 5% in 2030 and — after subsequent five-year steps — 63% in 2050.
These SAF targets are known as blending mandates. They would cover advanced biofuels, which exclude traditional types that risk competing with food production.
Within the proposed SAF targets, the draft law would also guarantee minimum amounts for synthetic aviation fuels, a type of renewable energy of non-biological origin with especially high emission-savings potential compared to fossil aviation fuel (ie, kerosene).
