#Sustainability20: Cascadia Coalition sets ambitious course for SAF production & more
Weekly round-up 16/01/25
Each Friday, we publish a round-up of the 20 most important stories on sustainable aviation. You can see previous editions of #Sustainability20 here.
Industry updates
The Cascadia SAF Coalition has set an ambitious roadmap to scale SAF production across the Pacific Northwest, aligning regional policy, investment, and infrastructure to accelerate commercial deployment.
Five Key Risks That Will Shape 2026 - IATA
IATA has warned that geopolitical instability, supply chain disruption, sustainability costs, regulatory fragmentation, and talent shortages have emerged as five key risks shaping aviation resilience and growth in 2026.
A new study has found that removing lie-flat seats could significantly reduce aircraft weight and emissions, suggesting cabin reconfiguration offers airlines a low-cost decarbonisation opportunity.
Safran executives have cautioned that hydrogen aircraft remain a long-term prospect, with technological, economic, and infrastructure barriers meaning widespread adoption is unlikely before the next century.
Delta Air Lines has marked its centenary by highlighting clean energy achievements, including fleet efficiency gains, SAF use, and operational improvements supporting long-term decarbonisation goals.
CLIMATE WATCH: Human activity helped make 2025 third-hottest year on record, experts say - The Guardian
Scientists have confirmed that human activity has significantly contributed to 2025 becoming the third-hottest year on record, reinforcing links between emissions growth and intensifying climate impacts.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport has progressed towards net-zero carbon emissions, expanding renewable energy, efficiency upgrades, and electrification across one of the world’s busiest hubs.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
SkyNRG has secured environmental approvals for Project Wigeon, clearing a major hurdle for the construction of a pioneering SAF production facility in eastern Washington state.
Avinor has commissioned a fossil-free biogas plant at Svalbard Airport, marking a major step in reducing emissions from airport heating and supporting Norway’s aviation decarbonisation strategy.
Washington State has committed US$20 million to green aviation initiatives as a Walla Walla SAF plant advances, strengthening public support for regional sustainable fuel production.
Bunge Brazil has become the first company to certify soybeans for SAF under ISCC CORSIA Plus, expanding traceable feedstock options for SAF producers.
Aether Fuels has secured US$15 million in funding to accelerate SAF development, aiming to decarbonise aviation through scalable production and improved fuel economics.
New technology: electric and hydrogen
United Airlines, RTX, Northrop Grumman, and JetZero have partnered to advance blended-wing aircraft concepts, aiming to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions through novel airframe design.
Nordic energy companies have launched a €1 billion fossil-free e-fuel project, targeting development of what could become the world’s largest synthetic SAF production facility.
Advent Technologies and Airbus have expanded their fuel cell partnership, advancing hydrogen propulsion research and strengthening pathways towards zero-emission commercial aircraft.
Horizon Aircraft has targeted assembly of its Cavorite X7 hybrid-eVTOL prototype in 2026, progressing towards flight testing and certification for regional air mobility markets.
Evio has demonstrated that hybrid-electric aircraft could deliver meaningful airline cost savings through reduced fuel burn, maintenance requirements, and emissions.
SkyDrive has reached a general understanding with AeroGulf Services to explore deployment of eVTOL aircraft, supporting early commercialisation of urban air mobility services.
China has accelerated development of hydrogen and electric aviation technologies, positioning advanced aircraft manufacturing as part of its broader clean energy industrial strategy.
Joby has expanded production capacity to meet anticipated demand, signalling growing confidence in the near-term commercial rollout of eVTOL services.
AIR has unveiled a personal eVTOL aircraft at CES 2026, highlighting advances in lightweight design and autonomy aimed at future individual air mobility.