IATA: New EU plan a significant step toward decarbonizing air transport, but stronger action still needed

The International Air Transport Association noted Nov. 6 the European Commission’s release of the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan as a significant step in recognizing the urgent need to accelerate air transport’s decarbonization.  

The plan addresses several long-standing weaknesses in the EU’s aviation decarbonization strategy, but more action is still needed, IATA stated. 

“We welcome the commission’s recognition of market challenges that derive from SAF mandates that were flawed from the outset, particularly the price gap between sustainable and conventional fuels, and the need for robust investment support,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general. “Extending SAF support under the EU Emissions Trading System, exploring tradable SAF and book-and-claim mechanisms, simplifying operator reporting, improving access to sustainability certificates via the Union Database for Biofuels, and advancing dual conformance of SAF under EU Renewable Energy Directive and CORSIA to promote global harmonization are positive steps but we need to see how words turn into reality. Particularly, we are concerned that the STIP falls short of critical industry expectations. We hope this is just the start of a continued review of EU aviation sustainability initiatives, which will ultimately lead to a more efficient and successful program of decarbonization for aviation.”  

The areas of the STIP that remain areas of concern, according to IATA, include the following.  

Enabling SAF book-and-claim in Europe 

IATA noted the commission’s recognition of the potential of mechanisms that enable tradable SAF certification, including book-and-claim options, to address the SAF supply barrier across European airports.  

It is also worth noting that such a system will serve as a key enabler for investments in SAF production facilities, in addition to promoting regional cohesion and connectivity by ensuring a level playing field for aircraft operators from different geographical regions in Europe. 

This system is urgently required in Europe, according to IATA, and due to the misalignment between the flexibility mechanism under ReFuelEU aviation, and the rules to claim SAF under EU ETS, necessary amendments to the EU ETS directive should be implemented during its upcoming review to allow for EU-wide purchase-based claiming of SAF.  

IATA also noted that book-and-claim is paramount to the success of the proposed “intermediary mechanism.”  

The association said enhancement of the UDB is also critical and should be expedited to enable this. 

Prioritizing demand-side considerations is crucial 

Acknowledging the role of aircraft operators as end-users and giving their issues due consideration should be a priority in STIP’s materialization, IATA said.  

Aircraft operators require a predictable SAF market with clear price transparency to plan the integration of SAF into their daily operations effectively. 

Under the current regulatory framework, aircraft operators are exposed to unjustifiably higher prices for jet fuel and SAF.  

While it is necessary to focus on ways to increase investment in SAF production facilities, STIP should prioritize equally the creation of a transparent and open SAF market that encourages both more supply and demand, according to IATA.  

A robust UDB is also critical to this effort, and hence, IATA urged the commission to expedite its enhancement work.  

IATA and its members stand ready to contribute any necessary input to this work, to ensure the best outcome for all parties involved. 

Technology-neutral SAF support is key to ensuring diversified SAF production in Europe   

While the STIP acknowledges the role of biofuels, IATA noted that it continues to prioritize eSAF, citing feedstock constraints.  

IATA’s recent report on feedstock availability demonstrates that Europe possesses significant untapped potential for sustainable feedstocks, including advanced residues and waste streams.  

A technology-neutral approach—supporting both biofuels and eSAF—is essential to maximize the potential of all SAFs, all of which will be necessary to reach the targeted 500 million tons in 2050.  

Limiting support to eSAF alone risks undermining the scalability and cost-effectiveness of SAF deployment across the continent, with commensurate delays in achieving reductions in CO2 emissions. 

“IATA stands ready to work constructively with the commission to address these gaps and ensure that the STIP delivers a coherent, investment-ready framework,” Walsh said. “IATA asks for the EU Commission to clarify the timelines for materializing key flagship actions, in consideration of the reviews of the EU ETS and Refuel, to allow for timely and appropriate market actions and other interventions. The airline industry is committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but this ambition can only be realized if policy frameworks are fully aligned with industry needs and the true scale of the challenge.”