SAF is ‘most scalable lever’ to cut aviation emissions, says Airbus

opinion

by Fayaz Hussain

October 27, 2025

It’s easy talking the sustainability talk but more difficult to walk the walk. Airbus looks like it is doing both successfully. From increasing its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on delivery flights and investing in new technologies to growing demand through book and claim, the manufacturer is pulling all the stops to boost SAF consumption.

SAF is key to the OEM’s sustainability goals. “SAF is not just a transition tool, it’s the single most scalable lever for cutting aviation emissions over the next 10–15 years,” Catherine Guillemart, head of Public Affairs for Airbus in Canada tell us.

The manufacturer is prioritising the use of SAF in all operations. “We have an agreement with TotalEnergies to cover more than half of our SAF needs in Europe, as well as a joint research and innovation programme. We have a target of using at least 30% SAF in our global fuel mix by 2030,” adds Guillemart.

But that’s not the extent of it. The company is also actively investing in SAF production technologies. On an industry level, the company has signed memorandum of agreements with major SAF producers like Neste and OMV to uptake SAF. Its efforts also include advancing newer technologies like alcohol-to-jet through partnerships with LanzaJet and exploring broader range of feedstocks from waste and residue resources with DG Fuels. Earlier this week, it announced a $70m joint investment with Cathay Pacific to accelerate the development of SAF production in Asia.

In addition to using SAF on testing and air travel, Airbus earlier this year, launched a book and claim programme. The initiative’s signatories include leading aviation firms SMBC Aviation Capital, AerCap, Comlux, Luxaviation, Novespace, RIVE Private Investment and SAF Aerogroup.

“As a facilitator, Airbus will purchase SAF certificates and manage the associated sustainability attributes through the registry of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials [RSB],” says Guillemart.

The company delivered the first of its sustainability credentials for the use of SAF to a customer a few weeks ago. It delivered an A220 aircraft to Air France – marking its first from Airbus’ site in Mirabel to Paris powered by SAF. Airbus has been offering SAF in deliveries since 2016 and blending 5% SAF in ferry flights at no extra cost since 2023.

The company said it manages SAF using the mass balance principle. The fuel is sourced through World Fuel Services Canada, which buys it from the US for delivery to the Airbus Mirabel using a barge from Texas to Montreal then by road from Montreal to Mirabel, Quebec.

Airbus says the shortfall in Canadian SAF production requires sourcing fuel from abroad to meet operational needs. “The blended SAF will be mixed with the jet fuel in the Mirabel site’s fuel farm, which means that there will be no physical separation between the SAF and conventional aviation fuel as they will be stored in the same fuel tanks,” says Guillemart.

But current aircraft can only handle 50% SAF blends. Airbus is confident it can deliver aircraft that can fly with higher SAF percentage in the fuel mix. “We actively support industry-wide standardisation efforts at ASTM International to enable use of new production pathways and up to 100% SAF in operations,” says Guillemart.

“Looking forward, we are committed to having all our commercial and military aircraft and helicopters capable of being operated with up to 100% SAF by 2030.”