25/03/2026
SAF in Europe: Big Ambition, Tough Reality.
Didier Moraine from BeCA attended the latest RLCF Alliance General Assembly.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is quickly becoming a central piece of Europe’s aviation future. The ambition is clear: reduce emissions, scale up production, and meet increasingly strict targets. But while the direction is firmly set, the reality on the ground is proving much harder to navigate.
Recent discussions within the RLCF Alliance — which brings together industry players, investors, and policymakers — highlight a growing gap between policy ambition and practical implementation. Everyone agrees SAF is essential, yet turning that agreement into actual, widely available fuel remains a major challenge.
From a policy perspective, Brussels is not backing down. Decarbonisation goals remain intact, and there’s no indication of a rollback. However, there is increasing recognition that regulation alone won’t make SAF a success. Projects need to make financial sense, and right now, many simply don’t.
Across the industry, there is no shortage of SAF initiatives. The issue is that a large number of these projects are struggling to move forward to final investment decisions. The reasons are fairly consistent: SAF is still significantly more expensive than conventional jet fuel, long-term purchase agreements are difficult to secure, and private capital has not fully stepped in. On top of that, the 2030 timeline is approaching দ্রুত, leaving little room for delay.
Implementation is where things become even more complicated. While Europe has created a regulatory framework, applying it in practice brings administrative burdens and uneven conditions across the market. Airlines are left navigating uncertainty — particularly around how costs are shared and where the actual value of SAF investments will land.
At the same time, SAF is no longer just a climate issue. It is increasingly tied to Europe’s broader strategic goals, including energy independence and industrial competitiveness. This shift adds urgency, but also complexity.
There are some positive developments. Work is ongoing to improve financing mechanisms and build the necessary infrastructure. A new project labeling system is also being introduced to help investors identify credible and viable SAF initiatives more easily. These steps could help unlock capital, but they are still in progress.
For pilots, the takeaway is straightforward: progress is real, but fragile. Policy is moving faster than the market can currently support, and financing remains the biggest obstacle. The next one to two years will be decisive. If Europe is serious about meeting its SAF targets, the focus now needs to shift from discussion to concrete investment.
