IATA Study Confirms that SAF Technology Rollout is Main Bottleneck to Net Zero, not Feedstock Availability
Published by Todd Bush on September 23, 2025
Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in partnership with Worley Consulting, has published a study demonstrating that sufficient sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstock exists to enable the airline industry to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. All feedstocks considered meet stringent sustainability criteria and do not lead to changes in land use.
>> In Other News: Oneworld Airline Partners Join With Breakthrough Energy Ventures to Invest in New SAF Technologies
Airlines will need 500 million tonnes (Mt) of SAF to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as outlined in the IATA Net Zero Roadmaps.
“We now have unequivocal evidence that if SAF production is prioritized then feedstock availability is not a barrier in the industry’s path to decarbonization. There is enough potential feedstock from sustainable sources to reach net zero carbon emissions in 2050. However, this will only be accomplished with a major acceleration of the SAF industry’s growth. We need shovels in the ground now,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
“The report highlights the local and regional opportunities for SAF production to create jobs, stimulate economies and support energy security goals. Governments, energy producers, investors, and the aviation sector must work together, de-risk investment, and accelerate rollout. Policy certainty and cross-sector collaboration are essential to unlock the scale we need. The time to act is now—delays will only make the challenge harder,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist.
Notes for Editors:
IATA represents some 350 airlines comprising over 80% of global air traffic.
You can follow IATA on X for announcements, policy positions, and other useful industry information.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Daily decarbonization data and news delivered to your inbox
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Latest issues
-
Mammoth DAC Plant in Iceland Hits 5x Carbon Removal Output
Inside This Issue 🌱 Climeworks Cuts Mammoth DAC Operating Costs by Over 50% 💰 ExxonMobil Wins Texas Approval for $5bn Carbon Capture Project 🌐 Open Coalition Approves Work Plan and Defines Secreta...
-
Origins Hub Will Store 1.5 Million Tonnes of CO2 in Alberta
Inside This Issue 🍁 Enhance Energy's Origins Hub Reshapes Alberta Carbon Storage 🤝 Carbon Unbound Merges East and West Coast Summits Into One Flagship North American CDR Event 🧭 Vortex Energy Enga...
-
Honeywell's Methanol-to-Jet Pathway Just Cleared Its Biggest Gate
Inside This Issue 🛫 Methanol-to-Jet Clears the ASTM Gate. What Changes Now? 🌿 InPlanet Selected as the Brazilian Supplier in Whirlpool Corporation's Durable Carbon Removal Portfolio 🧲 Climeworks A...
Company Announcements
-
FedEx: Expands Sustainable Aviation Fuel Agreements Across U.S. Air Network
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 15, 2026 - FedEx is scaling its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) procurement through new agreements projected to secure more than 20 million gallons of neat SAF across five U.S...
-
Praj and Gevo Forge Landmark Alliance to Advance Bio-IBA in India
The agreement strengthens India's pioneering efforts to develop Bio-IBA as a renewable blending solution for decarbonizing one of the world's largest diesel markets. ENGLEWOOD, Colo and PUNE, Indi...
-
Novel approach addresses both methane and carbon dioxide removal and marks Google's largest carbon removal purchase to date, delivering 1M tonnes of impact by 2030 SAN FRANCISCO & SAO PAULO-- ...
-
AiP acquired after completing risk assessment of CO2 handling operations specific to low-pressure liquefied CO2 carriers and establishing a safety-focused design policy Utilizes the MILES-based st...