IATA: Spanish government should adopt ecological commission’s recommendations for SAF production

The International Air Transport Association welcomed June 28 the approval of a nonbinding legislative proposal to the Spanish government to promote the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Spain.

The Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge Commission of Spain’s Congress of Deputies approved a proposal calling for the central government to:

• Provide incentives for SAF production.

• Fund R&D for new SAF sources.

• Establish public-private partnerships for SAF.

• Develop strategies for access to waste and biomaterial for SAF feedstock.

The proposal was presented by the People’s Party with the support of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party.

“The ecological commission’s comprehensive proposal for greater state support for SAF is a big step in the right direction,” said Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s regional vice president for Europe. “It is particularly encouraging that this proposal has support across the political spectrum. Recognizing the importance of aviation, the political consensus is to decarbonize flying without restricting people’s access to air travel. It is now critical for the Spanish government to turn this proposal into law.”

SAF is the primary technology for aviation to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

A major scaling up of production is needed to increase global annual SAF production from current levels of 1.5 million metric tons in 2024 to more than 400 million tons by 2050.

The EU has set a near-term mandate for SAF use of 2 percent of all aviation fuel uplifted at EU airports in 2025 (rising to 6 percent by 2030), while at the global level the International Civil Aviation Organization aims to achieve a 5 percent reduction in aviation’s carbon emissions by 2030 using SAF and low-carbon aviation fuels. 

“Airlines are firmly focused on achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” Schvartzman said. “As governments set interim targets, it is critical that they establish policies to achieve them. Spain’s ecological commission has correctly understood that SAF production is lagging far behind demand. Turning these proposals into law will address that along with creating jobs, shoring up the tourism sector and improving energy independence. Spain will be a leader in Europe and a global example for other governments to follow.”