Europe’s biggest airlines have jointly claimed that the European Commission’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandates for 2030 are unachievable based on current production levels.
Speaking at European airline association A4E’s Aviation Summit on 27 March, airline leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the industry’s net-zero 2050 target, but said the interim target of 6% SAF useage by 2030 under the ReFuelEU legislation will not be met, meaning the date will need to be pushed back.
“The feedback we are getting from the oil producers is they will not have sufficient supply by 2030 to allow us to meet our 6% mandate,” says Ryanair group chief executive Michael O’Leary.
“We don’t want to abandon those commitments but I think it’s clear that they will have to move to the right.”
The airline chief executives’ claims were backed up on the day by a new report from Boston Consulting, which forecasts a shortfall of up to 45% in eSAF supply and 30% in biofuel supply by 2030.
But the European Commission immediately rejected the claims made by the A4E carriers, saying: “We consider the current SAF targets to be realistic and feasible.”
New European Commissioner for Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas had spoken at the Brussels event and received a broadly positive response from A4E members for his willingness to work with the airline industry, although he did not directly address the prospect of a SAF shortfall.
Tzitzikostas did, however, suggest there might be more “stick” to come – referring to the “carrot and stick” metaphor – to encourage production of SAF.
”The European Commission and member states must now take responsibility: fuel suppliers are not delivering,” A4E says.
