Call for a European action plan for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
The aviation sector faces a challenge. With a 2.5% share of global CO2 emissions, the sector needs to drastically improve sustainability.
Published on February 13, 2025
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While aviation loudly presents itself as an innovator, growing doubts are emerging about the feasibility of climate-neutral flying. An Open Letter calls on the EU to take immediate action for a net-zero future by 2050. The five leading European aviation industry associations – ASD, A4E, ACI, CANSO, and ERA – which form the Destination 2050 industry alliance, published this open letter directed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) are key to 83% of emission reductions, but access and cost remain obstacles. Electric and hydrogen aircraft are far from technically ready, and low-profit margins in the sector impede costly transitions. Climate-neutral ambitions clash with the reality of financial constraints and technical challenges.
Experts suggest that the aviation sector is not a credible partner in the fight against climate change without a radical change in direction. With de-industrialization costs rising to €1.3 trillion, there is also an urgent need for an EU action plan focused on SAF application in the Clean Industrial Deal.
The aviation sector faces a monumental challenge. With a 2.5% share of global CO2 emissions, the industry must drastically improve sustainability. Recent research shows that 87% of the 77 airlines surveyed worldwide fail to transition to sustainable jet fuels. Decarbonization costs have increased by €480 billion to €1.3 trillion in four years. At the same time, the global fleet is expected to double between 2024 and 2044. This growth forecast runs counter to climate goals. The EU has set concrete targets: starting in 2025, 2% of fuel must be renewable, rising to 6% in 2030 and 70% in 2050.
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The SAF Reality
According to the Open Letter, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are the key pillar for sustainability, with an expected 83% share of emission reductions by 2050. Practice, however, is recalcitrant. The Lufthansa Group used only 0.15% SAF in 2023. Major oil producers will produce no more than 3 megatons of SAF by 2030, less than 3% of their current kerosene production. E-kerosene, the only sustainably scalable solution, is included in less than 10% of SAF deals. While Europe has a leading position in synthetic fuels with 60% of high-value patents, without investment security and contributions from major oil companies, large-scale production remains a challenge.
Technological Barriers
The industry is exploring four main routes for fossil-free flights: biofuels, batteries, hydrogen, and electrofuels. On the Swedish island of Gotland, work is underway to establish an electric flight link by 2028, with the ES-30 aircraft to have a range of 200 km. However, Professor Stefan Gössling identifies 40 barriers to climate-neutral aviation. One crucial obstacle is the lack of consensus on the definition of “net zero” for aviation. In addition, technical limitations and technology immaturity for electric and hydrogen aircraft are significant challenges.
Financial challenges are immense. The aviation industry has historically low-profit margins that can barely support transition costs. Renewable alternatives cost significantly more than fossil kerosene, which now accounts for 20 to 30 percent of aviation spending. The European Clean Industrial Deal may offer a solution, but concrete action plans are still being developed.
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