The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced it will be launching a Matchmaker Platform to link airlines and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) suppliers.
Announcing the initiative on 24 September at the World Sustainability Symposium (WSS) held in Miami, USA. IATA said the initiative was scheduled for launch in the first quarter of next year.
“Our vision is to create a transparent, efficient and accessible matchmaking platform that will accelerate the uptake of SAF as the aviation industry progresses towards net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050,” IATA’s senior vice president Sustainability and chief economist Marie Owens Thomsen said.
IATA said the SAF Matchmaker would cover three specific areas – connectivity, visibility and efficiency.
SAF producers and suppliers would be able to post available or planned SAF volumes and airlines would be able to register their interest in purchasing shown or desired SAF volumes. Any subsequent trade would take place outside the platform.
The platform would also provide information on available SAF, including volumes, feedstock used, the location and technology of production and emission reductions, as well as compliance with the Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) or the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive (EU RED).
According to IATA, the central platform will simplify SAF procurement by making it easier and faster for all parties to connect. It would also facilitate the development of market intelligence based on data generated by the platform.
Although the platform’s initial focus would be airlines and SAF suppliers, governments and non-aviation corporate SAF buyers would also be able to participate at a later date, IATA said.
IATA represents around 330 airlines comprising over 80% of global air traffic.
