COMMISSION STANDS FIRM ON SAF TARGETS DESPITE INDUSTRY CONCERNS
Gathered in Brussels on 27 March for the Airlines for Europe (A4E) Aviation Summit, the CEOs of Europe’s largest carriers voiced strong concerns over the feasibility of the 2030 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) targets set by the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. A4E called on the European Commission to take "urgent" action to secure the supply and affordability of SAF, warning that the current targets risk being unachievable without greater support and intervention.
Under the ReFuelEU regulation, airlines are required to ensure that at least 6% of fuel used in 2030 is sustainable, with a binding sub-target for synthetic fuels (e-fuels). However, a study by the Boston Consulting Group, presented at the Summit, forecasts a 45% shortfall in synthetic fuel supply and a 30% shortfall in biofuels by the end of the decade. The report underlines mounting industry anxiety over the availability of feedstock, production capacity, and escalating prices.
Despite these concerns, the European Commission showed no signs of backing away from its climate ambition. DG MOVE, Eddy Liégeois, Head of the Aviation Unit, acknowledged the price concerns but made the Commission’s position clear: "We share the airlines’ concerns about prices, but we need legal certainty. There is absolutely no reason to deviate from this mandate."
In his keynote address, the new European Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to the ReFuelEU targets while hinting at more concrete support measures to follow: “More effort and investment are needed to scale up eSAF, which is a key part of our ambition. The upcoming Sustainable Transport Investment Plan will outline how we will support eSAF.” The Commissioner’s speech acknowledged the industry's leadership role and the need to balance environmental objectives with competitiveness: “Decarbonisation must and will not come at the expense of competitiveness... Every SAF and eSAF offtake agreement you sign makes Europe stronger.” The Commissioner also used the occasion to highlight other upcoming Commission priorities, including the review of the Air Services Regulation to strengthen international competitiveness and measures to reduce regulatory burden on airlines.
The full keynote speech by Commissioner Tzitzikostas is available on the European Commission website.