In compliance with the SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) mandate of the UK, effective Jan. 1, 2025, aviation fuel suppliers must blend at least 2% SAF with jet fuel and increase it to 10% by 2030. Post this mandate, have UK airlines invested in sustainable aviation or delayed it?
SAF Mandate and Revenue Certainty Mechanism
According to International Air Transport Association or IATA, it has communicated and raised concerns about price volatility and lack of transparency. Voluntary SAF purchases are approximately 60% cheaper than mandated SAF, though both are 4-5 times more expensive than Jet A1 fuel.
The government introduced ‘revenue certainty mechanism’ in May 2025 to provide price guarantees for SAF developers. It will ensure a predictable revenue stream by working between market prices and cost of producing SAF. The UK government has allowed refineries to raise the SAF plants’ co-processing blend limit from 5% to 30%. This process is carried out without investing in new infrastructure, rather enabling existing refineries to produce more SAF feedstock.
Despite these measures, forecasts from the International Bureau of Aviation (IBA) and Argus indicate that UK SAF output might only reach 4.6% by 2030—well below the mandated 10%.
What if we do nothing?
Even if we do nothing about investing in SAF, the oil prices are set on a rise. The refineries are closing down eventually increasing costs through imports and supply fluctuations. Such imports are accompanied by longer distances leading to higher prices. Therefore, dependence on refineries wouldn’t lead to perpetual supply of Jet A1.
What if we do something?
It isn’t just the consumers paying higher taxes or airlines investing more, but the government’s duty as well to step in. Government can drive the sustainable strategies into practical solutions by leading policies across all industries interconnected to aviation.
Currently, 129 nations have participated in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) developed by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), though it is still voluntary in 2025. It will become mandatory in 2030 due to increased demand for offsets.
Aviation industry is one of the highest polluters, releasing a significant amount of pollutants into the atmosphere. With the constantly changing climate, we are close to missing the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.
If the real benefit of sustainability rather than guilt is sold to the public and investors, everyone would be on board to drive change. Do you think we can collectively reduce the aviation industry’s environmental impact? Let us know in the comments below!
