GBTA Foundation launches SAF Corporate Connect to accelerate SAF adoption in business travel

Air travel remains one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize—yet it’s essential for global business.  

And for companies committed to sustainability, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is one of the few viable solutions available to reduce their air travel-related emissions.  

Corporate travel managers are increasingly driving demand for SAF, however, large-scale adoption has yet to gain momentum.  

To address this gap, the GBTA Foundation, the cause-led arm of the Global Business Travel Association, announced Sept. 22 the launch of SAF Corporate Connect, the first comprehensive learning and collaboration hub designed specifically to help the corporate travel-industry community.  

The hub equips travel managers and sustainability leaders with the knowledge and tools to understand, evaluate and integrate SAF into their programs. 

Developed with the support of the GBTA sustainability partners and unveiled during Climate Week NYC, SAF Corporate Connect aims to break down barriers to SAF adoption by offering: 

• Guidance for corporate-travel buyers on SAF purchasing options and integration strategies. 

• Timely market intelligence and up-to-date information on SAF developments. 

• A collaborative forum for peer exchange, knowledge sharing and industry engagement. 

Carbon emitted during the production of SAF—from raw materials to distribution—can be up to 80 percent less than conventional jet fuel.  

When integrated as part of a broader decarbonization strategy that includes influencing travel decisions, monitoring and setting emissions-reduction goals, and engaging travel supply chains, SAF can help companies achieve credible travel-emissions reductions.  

And with airlines projecting SAF as a cornerstone of their decarbonization strategies by 2050, the $1.57 trillion global business-travel sector holds significant influence in accelerating adoption. 

“Successfully implementing SAF at scale is a shared investment across the industry,” said Delphine Millot, an executive with GBTA and managing director at the GBTA Foundation. “When it comes to the complex world of SAF, corporate-travel managers need practical tools to build strong business cases and engage internal stakeholders. SAF Corporate Connect will help companies and industry professionals understand the SAF market, engage suppliers and communicate progress with credibility.” 

Millot also noted GBTA’s ongoing advocacy for clearer reporting standards around SAF purchased via book-and-claim models and emphasized the initiative’s role in amplifying the voice of corporate-travel buyers on SAF-related challenges. 

Recent GBTA research highlights the need for greater awareness and support.  

In the foundation’s 2024 Sustainability Acceleration Challenge, only 12 percent of 241 participating companies reported purchasing SAF certificates.  

In other GBTA studies, travel global managers cite limited budgets, lack of awareness or understanding, and perceived complexity of the purchasing process as key barriers. 

By featuring companies with established SAF strategies, SAF Corporate Connect aims to inspire others to chart their own path forward.