New Report: Sustainable Aviation Outlook Report 2026
Drawing on insights from 26 airlines, our 2026 outlook examines how airlines manage sustainability ambitions within real-world operations.
As the aviation industry enters the second half of the 2020s, the gap between sustainability ambition and operational delivery is narrowing, albeit unevenly.
Every year, we survey airline sustainability teams to take the pulse of where the industry actually stands. The result is our annual Sustainable Aviation Outlook report, one of the few publications grounded entirely in primary data from airlines, giving sustainability leaders an honest benchmark of industry efforts.
This Earth Day, we’re releasing the third edition of our Sustainable Aviation Outlook report, based on insights from 26 airlines across six continents.
What’s new in 2026
A first look at how airlines are preparing for CORSIA Phase 1 compliance, and the challenges that remain
Insights into the regulatory landscape shaping SAF, from ReFuelEU and UK mandates to regional policies
How airlines actually plan to meet SAF requirements through 2030, from direct fuel purchases to Book and Claim, offsets, long-term agreements, and investment in production
A new digital format, with the report also made available as a structured web experience for easier navigation
Five focus areas for airlines to accelerate sustainability progress
Build CORSIA and SAF compliance infrastructure before Phase 2 extends offsetting requirements to all international flights in 2027.
Secure diversified SAF supply through long-term offtake agreements, direct investment, and supply chain partnerships.
Strengthen accountability by linking sustainability KPIs to executive compensation and operational targets.
Communicate with precision to build stakeholder trust while meeting increasingly strict regulatory requirements for environmental claims.
Collaborate at industry level on shared challenges, particularly SAF supply development and compliance standard-setting, where individual airline action has limited impact.
About the survey
SimpliFlying’s third annual Sustainable Aviation Outlook Survey was completed by 26 airlines, our largest and most geographically diverse cohort to date. Participating airlines include Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Finnair, Virgin Australia, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa Group, and many more
The survey covered six dimensions: team structure, strategy and reporting, sustainability initiatives, sustainable aviation fuel, perception and communication, and budget and investment. Each dimension draws on three years of longitudinal data, to provide a status update and actionable recommendations for the year ahead.