We've been getting more questions about sustainable aviation fuel lately, and it's no surprise. This new type of jet fuel is reshaping aviation operations across the board—from commercial airlines to charter flights. Let's talk through what SAF actually is and why it matters for anyone who flies, ships cargo, or coordinates air travel.
What SAF Actually Means
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is jet fuel made from renewable sources like used cooking oil, food waste, and agricultural residues rather than crude oil. The key advantage? It works in existing aircraft without any modifications to engines or fuel systems.
Think of it this way: if regular jet fuel comes from oil that's been underground for millions of years, SAF comes from materials that were recently alive—plant oils, waste products, even captured carbon dioxide.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) defines SAF as drop-in fuel that can be blended with conventional jet fuel up to 50% without requiring aircraft modifications. This compatibility makes SAF particularly valuable for charter operations where operational flexibility is essential.
Current Production Numbers
Global SAF production in 2025: 2.1 million tonnes
Percentage of total aviation fuel: 0.7% of worldwide consumption
Growth rate: 13% annually, but needs massive scaling
These numbers show both progress and challenge. While SAF production is growing steadily, IATA's latest data shows disappointing progress with production still falling far short of industry requirements for meaningful decarbonisation.
Why Aviation Needs This Change
Aviation faces a fundamental challenge that affects everything from private jet charter to cargo operations. The industry currently produces 3% of global CO2 emissions, but without changes, this could reach 22% by 2050 as other sectors decarbonise faster.
The IATA commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 represents more than environmental goals—it's becoming a business requirement as corporate clients demand sustainability reporting and governments implement carbon policies.
SAF's role in meeting these targets: Expected to provide 65% of emission reductions needed for aviation to reach net-zero. This means going from today's 0.7% to potentially 60-80% of aviation fuel by 2050.
For charter operators coordinating special mission flights or group travel, understanding SAF implementation helps explain changing fuel costs and client sustainability requirements.
What's Driving Adoption Now
Regulatory requirements are creating immediate demand across multiple regions. The European Commission's ReFuelEU Aviation regulation represents the world's most comprehensive SAF mandate, requiring:
- EU airports: 6% SAF by 2030
- UK requirement: 9.5% SAF by 2030
- Other regions following: Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East implementing similar policies
Supply chain pressure adds another driver. Companies with net-zero commitments are requiring sustainability reporting from suppliers—including charter operators and logistics providers. This creates real business incentives beyond regulatory compliance.
For cargo charter operations, corporate clients increasingly need SAF documentation for supply chain emissions reporting. This trend affects everything from pharmaceutical logistics to emergency freight coordination.
The Supply Challenge
Here's the reality check: 2035 projected demand is 40 million tonnes globally, but supply capacity is only expected to reach 18 million tonnes. S&P Global's comprehensive analysis reveals this 23 million tonne shortfall will significantly impact pricing and availability across all aviation sectors.
Current production relies heavily on limited feedstocks. Over 80% comes from HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) technology, which depends on used cooking oils and animal fats—materials with limited global availability.
Future production needs diversification across multiple technologies: Alcohol-to-Jet, Gasification-Fischer Tropsch, and Power-to-Liquid methods that can use wider feedstock ranges.
Regional Production Development
The Netherlands shows how local SAF development impacts charter operations. Neste's Rotterdam facility produces 500,000 tonnes of SAF annually, benefiting flights leaving Amsterdam Schiphol.
This production capacity allows Dutch aviation to offer better SAF prices than regions relying on imports. The Dutch government's investment to be a global leader in sustainable aviation fuels creates infrastructure benefits for charter coordinators planning European routes.
Knowing regional SAF availability helps improve both environmental impact and operational costs when organising flights through various airports.
What This Means for Charter Operations
Charter flights are in a unique position. While commercial aviation deals with infrastructure limits across many routes and aircraft, charter operations can use SAF more easily by choosing airports with SAF and optimising their routes.
The fact that 64% of charter clients pick operators with environmental programs creates incentives that work alongside regulatory rules. This client preference, along with the flexibility of operations, allows charter operations to adopt SAF faster than their commercial peers.
Whether managing business travel, group movements, or urgent cargo, understanding SAF clarifies changes in aviation fuel costs, airport choices, and client sustainability needs, which are becoming standard across the industry.
Looking Forward
SAF is key to making aviation sustainable. Currently, production meets less than 1% of demand, but industry efforts, regulations, and technology are setting the stage for quick growth in the 2030s and 2040s.
Next week, we'll look at how various aviation sectors are adopting SAF at different paces and why charter operations have unique benefits in this shift. Following that, we'll explore the cost and budget strategies that make SAF implementation feasible for various operations.
Grasping SAF is crucial for anyone in aviation—whether booking flights, shipping cargo, or coordinating group travel—as the industry undergoes its biggest change since the jet age. It's about achieving climate goals while keeping aviation's vital role in global connectivity.
For more insights into aviation trends and charter operations, explore our comprehensive aircraft guides or contact our team to discuss how sustainability considerations affect your specific charter requirements.
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