The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has published new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production estimates.
In 2024, SAF production volumes totalled 1M tonnes (1.3bn litres), double the 0.5M tonnes (600M litres) produced the previous year, the association said on 10 December. SAF accounted for 0.3% of global jet fuel production and 11% of global renewable fuel.
Volumes for 2024 were significantly below previous estimates that had projected SAF production in 2024 at 1.5M tonnes (1.9bn litres), due to key SAF production facilities in the USA postponing production increases to the first half of 2025, the report said.
In 2025, SAF production is expected to reach 2.1M tonnes (2.7bn litres), or 0.7% of total jet fuel production and 13% of global renewable fuel capacity, according to the report.
“SAF volumes are increasing, but disappointingly slowly,” IATA’s director general Willie Walsh said.
“Airlines are eager to buy SAF… Governments can accelerate progress by winding down fossil fuel production subsidies and replacing them with strategic production incentives and clear policies supporting a future built on renewable energies, including SAF.”
To reach net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050, between 3,000-6,500 new renewable fuel plants will be needed, according to IATA analysis.
According to a recent IATA survey, there is significant public support for SAF, with around 86% of passengers in agreement that governments should provide production incentives for airlines to be able to access SAF. In addition, 86% agreed it should be a priority for oil companies to supply SAF to airlines.
IATA, which represents 340 airlines comprising over 80% of global air traffic, said progress to increase SAF production and use could be achieved by increasing co-processing, diversifying SAF production and creating a global SAF accounting framework.
