#Sustainability20: UK misses 2% SAF blending mandate in 2025 by 20% & more
Weekly Roundup - 09/01/25
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 UK has fallen around 20% short of its 2025 sustainable aviation fuel blending target, highlighting policy delays, limited domestic supply, and concerns over meeting future decarbonisation commitments.
Sustainable aviation fuel output doubled in 2025 but share remains low, IATA says - The Daily Digest
Global sustainable aviation fuel production more than doubled in 2025, but IATA has warned that SAF still represents a very small share of total jet fuel consumption worldwide.
Thailand has mandated a 1% SAF blend in Jet A-1 from January 1, 2026, introducing new fuel standards and SAF specifications in compliance with ASTM D7566, initially limited to HEFA.
SkyTeam has announced finalists for its fourth Aviation Challenge, where 22 airlines showcased 80 flights and 224 initiatives demonstrating measurable sustainability impact across emissions, energy efficiency, and waste reduction.
Hawaiian Airlines has announced a US$600 million investment programme to modernise cabins, improve reliability, and support sustainability initiatives, including fleet efficiency and lower-emissions operations.
A new study finds that aviation emissions could fall 50% through efficiency gains alone, noting 1% of people produce half of emissions and fueling debate over regulating luxury air travel.
CLIMATE WATCH: Record ocean heat is intensifying climate disasters, data shows - The Guardian
Scientists have warned that record ocean heat has already intensified extreme weather, accelerating climate disasters worldwide and underscoring the urgent need for rapid emissions reductions.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
Portland International Airport has relaunched its Green Plate programme, cutting an estimated 33,000 pounds of food waste annually through composting, reuse, and improved concessions management.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Topsoe and Carbon Neutral Fuels have partnered to advance e-SAF production using solid oxide electrolyser technology, aiming to improve efficiency and accelerate scalable synthetic aviation fuel deployment.
Dubai Airports’ chief executive has taken a leading role in a new initiative to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel adoption, focusing on regional collaboration and long-term supply development.
HPCL has inaugurated a sustainable aviation fuel demonstration plant at its Visakh refinery, marking a key step in India’s efforts to develop domestic SAF production capability.
Swiss startups Metafuels and Synhelion advanced SAF commercialisation, with Metafuels progressing its Rotterdam eSAF project and Synhelion securing a long-term solar jet fuel supply deal with SWISS.
Aviation fuel start-up Lydian has expanded operations, signalling growing investor interest in alternative aviation fuels despite ongoing challenges around cost and commercial scale.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
Eve Air Mobility has completed the first flight of its full-scale eVTOL prototype, advancing its development programme towards certification and future urban air mobility operations.
Joby Aviation has moved closer to commercial air taxi services after further FAA progress, though regulators have maintained cautious oversight on safety and certification timelines.
Beta Technologies has surpassed 100,000 nautical miles of flight testing, using real-world operations to refine electric aircraft performance and strengthen its certification case.
Electra has positioned its hybrid-electric EL9 aircraft for military logistics, pitching it as a flexible, low-emissions transport solution for short-field and distributed operations.
Joby Aviation has unveiled plans for a network of vertiports across US metropolitan areas, aiming to support future electric air taxi services at commercial scale.
Miami’s Watson Island heliport has been slated for transformation into a next-generation advanced air mobility facility, supporting eVTOL operations and passenger services.
Lift Aircraft has initiated the FAA type certification process for its commercial eVTOL, marking a formal step towards regulatory approval and wider market entry.
ZeroAvia has completed a new financing round, strengthening its balance sheet as it accelerates development of hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for commercial aviation.