#Sustainability20: IATA releases SAF Matchmaker to connect airlines and SAF suppliers & more
Weekly Roundup - 27/06/25
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
KLM is trialling a SAF surcharge on its Amsterdam-London City and Amsterdam-Hamburg routes from September, adding €16.25 to €20 to fares. The move will test passenger willingness to fund greener flying despite SAF’s limited availability.
314 European airports have published net-zero roadmaps, with a third targeting 2030, two decades ahead of the industry’s widely acknowledged 2050 deadline. ACI Europe reports 87% of passenger traffic now covered by decarbonisation plans, backed by carbon-cutting initiatives like the Airport Carbon Accreditation.
Singapore Airlines warns that climate compliance costs may exceed S$200 million by 2030, as emissions rise by 14%. The carrier aims for net zero by 2050 through fleet renewal and SAF adoption.
Airbus employees can now book "SAF Bundles" for business travel, embedding voluntary SAF contributions in fares. The scheme has already cut 2,000 tonnes of CO₂ via Air France-KLM’s corporate programme.
A survey reveals business travellers prefer rail for productivity (47%) over sustainability (39%). Wi-Fi improvements top wishlists, though 68% praise charging points. Cross-border booking challenges persist, with only 5% receiving timely journey updates.
Lufthansa Group has launched a "Sustainable Corporate Value Fare" with Airbus, allowing CO2 offsetting via SAF purchases. The fare covers German domestic flights, supporting Lufthansa’s wider SAF bulk deals for corporates.
Germany plans €17,000/tonne fines for fuel suppliers missing e-SAF quotas under ReFuelEU rules. The penalty exceeds EU minimums, aiming to boost synthetic fuel uptake from 1.2% in 2030 to 35% by 2050.
CLIMATE WATCH: Global Warming Is Speeding Up and the World Is Feeling the Effects - The New York Times
Global warming is accelerating at 0.27°C per decade, scientists warn, intensifying droughts, floods and heatwaves. Rising sea levels and ocean temperatures are outpacing models, with aerosols and cloud changes exacerbating the imbalance.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
London Luton Airport has introduced 30 low-emission buses as part of a £9.7m upgrade, improving regional links. The Euro VI fleet will support the airport’s sustainability goals, cutting congestion and pollution as passenger numbers grow.
Dallas Fort Worth Airport has added hybrid-electric fire trucks, cutting response times by 40% and emissions. The Volterra fleet aligns with PFAS-free foam plans, supported by infrastructure upgrades to meet future charging needs.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
IATA has launched a SAF Matchmaker platform to connect airlines with producers, streamlining the procurement process. The tool boosts transparency on volumes, feedstocks and emissions, supporting aviation’s net-zero goals without transaction fees.
Michigan’s Senate has passed bipartisan SAF tax credits, offering $1.50/gallon to producers using local crops. The bill, backed by farmers, aims to cut aviation emissions while revitalising rural economies.
4AIR’s blockchain-backed SAF registry has surpassed 10 million gallons, ensuring traceability from producer to end-user. The platform prevents double-counting, boosting trust in aviation’s decarbonisation efforts as SAF demand grows.
XCF Global plans to license its SAF technology globally after signing an Australian MoU with Continual Renewable Ventures. The Nevada-based firm aims to scale production via modular designs and capital-light partnerships.
Phillips 66 is supplying British Airways with SAF from its Rodeo refinery for Los Angeles flights. The deal follows US policy incentives, though blending mandates and tax credit uncertainty cloud long-term biofuel growth.
Rayonier and Verso Energy have signed an MoU to explore e-fuel and hydrogen projects in Jesup, Georgia, aiming to produce e-SAF, capture carbon, and support decarbonisation through joint feasibility studies.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
A £9.5m UK university consortium, led by Oxford, is researching liquid hydrogen for zero-carbon aviation. Partners include Rolls-Royce and Airbus, targeting mid-range flights with cryogenic fuel solutions by 2050.
Joby Aviation has partnered with Flexcompute to accelerate eVTOL development using GPU-powered aerodynamics software. The tech cuts simulation times from weeks to hours, helping optimise noise and efficiency for urban air mobility.
Skyports’ Bicester vertiport will host eVTOL trials in 2026, testing passenger processes and air traffic systems. The UK site, adaptable for multiple aircraft, builds on lessons from global testbeds.
Lockheed Martin has teamed up with Electra to advance its hybrid-electric EL9 aircraft for military logistics. The partnership focuses on manufacturing, supply chains and defence applications for the short-takeoff model.
Elysian Aircraft is developing a 90-seat electric plane for 800km ranges, targeting 2033 entry. Backed by KLM and Transavia, the Dutch startup prioritises subsystem testing over rushed prototypes for scalable solutions.