European aviation industry has welcomed the adoption of European legislation on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and calls for more incentives to scale up production and consumption of SAF within the European Union.

Some of the largest associations of the European aviation industry, that are also part of the Destination 2050 alliance, have welcomed the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation’s adoption and recognise further SAF deployment on a global scale for progress, according to Airports Council International (ACI). The bodies that have jointly welcomed the measure include A4E, ACI Europe, ASD, CANSO Europe and ERA, five of the top European aviation associations.

In a press statement, ACI says the unanimous adoption of the new rules by the EU marks a timely step ‘necessary to realising the ambitious decarbonisation targets set out in the ‘Destination 2050’ roadmap. 

The joint statement says that SAF is a crucial component of this roadmap and the adoption of the ReFuelEU legislation lays the foundation for ambitious blending shares of SAF in aviation fuel.

ACI says with positive signals from EU investors and industrial partners for investment, the EU shall ensure that the required uptake of SAF consumption will boost the European SAF industry. 

Stating that the international race to become a SAF leader has started, ACI says the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation should be complemented with further incentives to scale up SAF production and uptake in Europe through their inclusion into the EU Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) as part of the strategic net-zero technologies, mirroring the US approach in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The statement adds that aviation is global by nature and we need to ensure the decarbonisation of aviation is global as well. The European air transport sector strongly encourages the wider promotion of SAF around the world, according to ACI.

ACI says the ‘Destination 2050’ members urge global states and the wider aviation industry to join forces around for SAF objectives, to ensure aviation globally remains on track to attain the Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG), set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), of global NetZero carbon emissions for aviation by 2050.

It adds that political support for the NetZero future of aviation is key. It requires policies and incentives that scale up the global development and production of SAF.