IATA reports SAF production accelerating, but it needs to grow even faster

At its AGM in Dubai, the International Air Transport Association (IATA – the global representative body for the airline industry) reports that global sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) production this year is on track to achieve the predicted 200% year-on-year increase. But IATA also called on governments to implement policy measures to further accelerate the growth in SAF production. Total SAF production this year is forecast to come to 1.9-billion litres, or 1.5-million tons. “SAF will provide about 65% of the mitigation needed for airlines to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050,” highlighted IATA director-general Willie Walsh. “So the expected tripling of SAF production in 2024 from 2023 is encouraging. We still have a long way to go, but the direction of exponential increases is starting to come into focus.”