EBAA, GAMA announce ambitious 100% SAF roadmap for Europe

A Gulfstream G600 was the first aircraft to fly the Atlantic powered by 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced a joint initiative to increase use of SAF within the European business aviation sector.

The plan outlines ambitious targets, starting with a goal of 5% SAF usage by 2025; 20% by 2030, followed by a significant jump to 60% by 2040. The roadmap then aims for an 80% utilisation by 2045, culminating in a 100% SAF adoption by 2050. The move goes beyond the current legislative requirements.

EBAA and GAMA shared their roadmap in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Recommendations for Business Aviation Across Europe laying out the strategies and measures to encourage operators to adopt SAF at a higher rate than what is mandated by existing regulations such as ReFuel EU.

“This initiative is a testament to our industry’s dedication to sustainability. We are not just meeting regulatory requirements; we are setting higher standards for ourselves and leading by example. It’s crucial that we support the development and distribution of SAF, and the ‘Book & Claim’ system is a crucial tool allowing for an accelerated uptake of sustainable fuels,” said Holger Krahmer, secretary general, EBAA.

Despite the ambitious targets, the initiative also acknowledges the challenges faced in sourcing SAF, particularly its limited availability in certain regions. To address this, EBAA and GAMA call for the need to implement a robust and reliable ‘Book & Claim’ system.

“With SAF playing a key role in decarbonising business aviation, it is vital that we work with authorities and legislators to incentivise and strengthen efforts to develop, deploy and increase overall usage of SAF. This initiative further demonstrates the industry’s commitment to achieving our sustainability goals,” added Pete Bunce, president and CEO, GAMA.