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
-
Project Tundra Gets $205M in State Loans and a New Risk-Sharing Partner
Inside This Issue ⚡ Minnkota and Reliant Split Risk on Project Tundra CCS 🛢️ White House Pushes for More Refinery Waivers to Ease Pump Prices 🤝 Aker Solutions to Accelerate Carbon Capture and Remo...
-
Canada's Biggest CCS Deal Has a November 15 Deadline
Inside This Issue 🪨 Pathways CCS: What Still Has to Be Signed Before FID 🌍 Namibia Fires Up Africa's First Green Hydrogen Hub 💂 METLEN Conducts First Fire on Waste at the Protos ERF Plant in Chesh...
-
Heidelberg's $1.36B Edmonton Plant Is on Hold. Here's Why.
Inside This Issue 🚧 Carbon Price Gap Stalls Heidelberg Materials' $1.36B Edmonton Cement Carbon Capture Project ⛽ Shanghai Electric Contributes to World-Record Biomethanol Bunkering Operation ⚖️ I...
Company Announcements
-
Expansion adds Premier Ag Transportation Inc. fleet to the site alongside Western Milling and ten other commercial customers, with capacity available for more WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--...
-
LANCASTER, Calif., Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- US Hybrid Corp. and First Public Hydrogen (FPH₂) today announced a public-private partnership marking a major step in California's transition to hyd...
-
Aker Solutions to Accelerate Carbon Capture and Removal Projects With Microsoft
Aker Solutions has signed an agreement with Microsoft to advance the maturity, bankability and delivery of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects across the glob...
-
Rhinoflux and Swing Launch Sewage Sludge-to-Power and CO2 Capture PoC Trial in Japan
Sewage treatment facility Kyoto University-born deep tech startup Alex Mazawa, Co-founder and CEO of Rhinoflux Inc. ...