#Sustainability20: IATA study says that SAF technology rollout is main bottleneck to net-zero & more
Weekly Roundup - 26/09/25
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
An IATA study has confirmed that sufficient sustainable feedstock exists for aviation to reach net zero by 2050, but it requires a major acceleration in production technology and supportive policies.
ICAO and IRENA have launched a global financing portal to connect developers of clean aviation projects, particularly for sustainable aviation fuel, with potential financial backers.
The head of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Association has stated that airlines will only adopt SAF when it becomes cost-competitive, placing the onus on producers to innovate and reduce costs.
A new study from the ICCT suggests aviation is not a ‘hard-to-abate’ sector if contrail avoidance is prioritised, which could deliver 40% of its climate mitigation potential by 2050.
The Global Business Travel Association has launched a new learning hub to help corporate travel managers understand and integrate sustainable aviation fuel into their programmes.
ClimateTech startup Brineworks has secured €6.8 million in funding to commercialise its ultra-low-cost direct air capture technology for producing synthetic aviation fuels.
CLIMATE WATCH: Humans are altering the seas. Here’s what the future ocean might look like - NYT
A new study has warned that human activity is profoundly reshaping oceans, with over 12% of nearshore ecosystems at risk of being fundamentally altered by mid-century.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
Vortex Control Technologies has received EASA validation for its aerodynamic fins on Boeing 737NG aircraft, which reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Gevo and HAUSH Ltd have entered an agreement to explore developing ethanol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel production facilities at potential sites across Europe.
EcoCeres has expressed strong interest in investing in a Greater Bay Area SAF supply chain, contingent on clear local demand, feedstock security, and regulatory certainty.
Korean Air has begun using domestically produced sustainable aviation fuel on its flights to Kobe and Osaka, following a successful trial on the Incheon-Haneda route.
Mexico is proposing a regional initiative to convert problematic sargassum seaweed into sustainable aviation fuel, turning an environmental crisis into an opportunity.
Finnair has launched a new book-and-claim service for corporate customers, allowing them to co-fund the use of sustainable aviation fuel and claim the emissions reduction.
The Australian government has announced a A$1.1 billion incentive programme to develop a domestic renewable fuels industry using local agricultural feedstocks.
LanzaJet and Kazakhstan’s national oil company will advance the country’s first sustainable aviation fuel project into the engineering and design phase.
Ryanair and Shell Aviation Ireland have signed a multi-year offtake term sheet for sustainable aviation fuel from a new decentralised production project in Belfast.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft has completed a test flight reaching 7,000 feet, a key step in its certification campaign with the FAA.
Stralis Aircraft advances hydrogen fuel cell technology at Auckland Facility - Aviation Pros
Australian startup Stralis Aircraft has begun testing its high-temperature hydrogen fuel cell technology in New Zealand with support from Air New Zealand.
A European consortium has launched the LIME project to develop a next-generation, certifiable battery system for future hybrid-electric aircraft.
Deutsche Aircraft and Vaeridion have agreed to collaborate on testing battery technology and structural design for their respective regional aircraft programmes.
NASA is exploring a bold new hydrogen-hybrid engine concept for commercial aircraft that could provide a zero-emissions propulsion solution.