Airlines Challenge European Union 2030 Synthetic Fuel Mandates
The European aviation sector is preparing to challenge European Union regulations requiring the use of synthetic green jet fuel, or eSAF, starting in 2030, according to exclusive reports from two sources to Reuters. Companies plan to request a postponement or repeal of the mandate due to supply shortages and high operating costs that threaten the industry’s viability.
Airline Challenge Amid eSAF Scarcity
The trade association Airlines for Europe (A4E)—which includes groups such as Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair, easyJet, and International Airlines Group (IAG)—is expected to make a formal announcement this Thursday during an industry conference.
The primary points of friction identified by the industry are:
- Insufficient Production: Projects with firm investment will only reach 0.7% of the volume necessary to meet EU targets by 2030.
- Prohibitive Costs: Synthetic fuel (eSAF) is significantly more expensive to produce than bio-based SAF, which already costs between three and five times more than traditional kerosene.
- Financial Impact: Under the current trajectory, passengers could be forced to absorb between €7 billion and €9 billion in penalties imposed by fuel suppliers on airlines.
ReFuelEU Aviation Regulatory Framework
Currently, EU rules establish a progressive roadmap for the adoption of clean fuels:
- 2025: A mandate requiring 2% of fuel available at regional airports to be SAF.
- 2030: An increase to 6% SAF, including a specific sub-quota of 1.2% for eSAF.
- 2035: The eSAF mandate is set to scale up to 5%.
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The sector argues that these targets are too stringent. Furthermore, the industry is already facing flight disruptions and rising conventional fuel costs derived from the conflict in Iran.
Comparison: SAF vs. eSAF
| Feature | Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) | Synthetic Sustainable Aviation Fuel (eSAF) |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Used cooking oil or animal waste | Renewable energy, captured $CO_2$, or green hydrogen |
| Availability | 0.3% of current global supply | Nascent technology with near-zero supply |
| Emissions | Lower than conventional fuel | Lower emissions than bio-based SAF |
Warnings on European Competitiveness
While airlines seek to follow in the footsteps of the automotive industry—which successfully eased restrictions on internal combustion vehicles for 2035—other sectors warn of the risks of a delay.
Camille Mutrelle, from the organization Transport and Environment (T&E), points out that postponing the rules could cause the bankruptcy of eSAF startups. According to T&E, a delay would cause Europe to lose its competitive advantage as a pioneer in this technology.
For their part, regulators have privately rejected the idea of modifying the mandates, emphasizing that green fuels are one of the few immediate options for decarbonizing aviation, given that zero-emission aircraft are not expected within this decade.
The final decision on Airlines for Europe’s official stance will be made by airline CEOs at their meeting this Thursday, defining the future of the legal and political battle for aviation sustainability in Europe.
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