Sustainable Aviation Fuel Accounts For Only 0.8% Of Aviation Fuel Use In 2026, IATA Says
Global production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel will reach 2.4 million tonnes in 2026. This equals 0.8% of total aviation fuel use. The International Air Transport Association released the data.
Airlines will spend $4.3 billion on SAF this year. Output remains far below the level needed to reach net-zero targets by 2050.
Willie Walsh leads IATA. He called 2026 another disappointing year for SAF. Five years after airlines committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, SAF makes up less than 1% of fuel use. He blamed weak government policies and low interest from oil companies.
Walsh said the current energy crisis should push investment in renewable fuels. He added policy support remains too weak to build a viable SAF market.
IATA named four priorities to speed up production:
- Expand renewable energy supply for feedstocks and clean power
- Guarantee open access to pipelines, storage, and airport fuel systems
- Strengthen production incentives and investment rules
- Build a global SAF market with workable prices
IATA said a book-and-claim system is essential. This system would turn the SAF market from local into global.
Electro-SAF, or e-SAF, will grow in importance for cutting aviation emissions. The power-to-liquid process uses renewable electricity, green hydrogen, water, and carbon dioxide to make e-SAF.
The European Union and the United Kingdom set e-SAF targets of 0.6 million tonnes by 2030. Global operating and planned capacity now totals 0.02 million tonnes. Only one plant is running.
IATA said about 20 commercial refineries are needed to meet the 2030 targets. No companies announced final investment decisions for e-SAF projects in the last year.
Marie Owens Thomsen is IATA Senior Vice President for Sustainability. She called the 2030 targets unrealistic. She said Europe has the highest renewable energy prices in the world. Mandates before production will raise costs and divert resources.
IATA also released passenger survey results from April 2026:
- 89% of passengers want airlines to keep cutting emissions even if governments step back
- 66% are willing to pay more to offset emissions
- 88% expect ticket prices to rise from sustainability spending
- 25% want funds directed to SAF development
- 23% support emissions-reduction technologies
- 10% prefer environmental taxes
Nearly half of travelers think about carbon emissions when they choose flights. Of those, more than 85% say emissions data affects their decisions.