Flights, the appeal of airlines: « The EU reviews the Green fuel obligation scheduled for 2030 »
From this year European carriers are obliged to use at least 2% sustainable fuel for aviation (SAF) to climb 70% in 2050. But production is scarce and the costs are 8 times higher than the classic kerosene
The environmental constraints imposed by the European Union to airlines begin to become impossible to respect in the face of the excessive cost and lack of sufficient quantity of sustainable fuel for aviation (SAF). For this reason, the obligation to use at least 6% SAF by 2030 is « unrealistic ». It is the request for some of the main aerolinees of the continent-from Ryanair to the Lufthansa group, from IAG (British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus) to Air France-Klm-sent to Brussels during the Aviation Summit of « Airlines 4 Europe », the trade association.
Reactions
Not only is the sustainable fuel for the aviation up to 8 times more expensive than traditional kerosene and is scarce, but risks transforming into a boomerang for the global competitiveness of European aviolinees. « A strategy for EU aviation is urgently needed to have SAF at competitive prices, » said IAG Luis Gallego’s CEO. « Without targeted interventions, the only option is to move further forward the goal set to 2030 ». «We are losing market shares not only in favor of state carriers in the East, but also of companies and some US partners. The European aviation is late, « added Carsten Spohr, CEO of the Lufthansa group.
Clarification
In a subsequent note, an A4E spokesman underlines that the associated aviolinees remain « fully engaged in the decarbonisation of the aviation, in the reduction of emissions and in achieving the net zero objective by 2050 ». « However – he continues – we are deeply concerned that the refuel legislation is not creating the accessible SAF market he had promised. The European Commission and Member States must now take responsibility: fuel suppliers are not respecting commitments. Without an urgent action in the coming months, the credibility of the mandate will be seriously compromised – and a revision of the required obligations will be necessary.
What the rules say
The « Refueleu » Community package establishes that from this year all flights departing from an airport of the European Union will be obliged to use a minimum quota of sustainable fuel for aviation: 2% in 2025, 6% in 2030, 20% in 2035, 34% in 2040, 42% in 2045 and 70% in 2050. Within this compulsory share, however, the EU has also decided to predict the presence of the presence of the Synthetic fuels (e-workne): 1.2% in 2030, 5% in 2035 and 35% in 2050.
Production
But to achieve the goal, the carriers of the continent must include over 800 billion euros of additional costs, thus bringing the total expenditure for the energy transition of the sector to almost 1,900 billion. According to the IATA – the main world association of aviolinee – in 2024 the production of SAF touched the million tons, double compared to 2023 (but less than 1.5 million expected), but still 0.3% of the total fuel production. This year it should touch 2.1 million.
