IATA confirms sufficient sustainable aviation fuel feedstock to reach net zero by 2050

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in partnership with Worley Consulting, has confirmed that the aviation industry has enough sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstock to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The study found that all considered feedstocks meet strict sustainability standards and do not require changes in land use.

However, the report highlights significant barriers to large-scale SAF production. Current technologies, such as HEFA which converts used cooking oil into SAF, are limited in scale, and competition for feedstocks with other sectors may restrict availability.

To meet the net zero target, airlines will need 500 million tonnes of SAF annually by 2050. Biomass could provide over 300 million tonnes each year, while power-to-liquid (PtL) technologies will be essential to produce the remaining volume. Expanding production will require improvements in conversion efficiency, faster technology rollout, enhanced feedstock logistics, and upgraded infrastructure across regions.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh emphasised the urgency of action. “We now have unequivocal evidence that if SAF production is prioritised then feedstock availability is not a barrier in the industry’s path to decarbonisation. There is enough potential feedstock from sustainable sources to reach net zero carbon emissions in 2050. However, this will only be accomplished with a major acceleration of the SAF industry’s growth. We need shovels in the ground now,” he said.

The report also identified key challenges, including scaling up new SAF production technologies, ensuring feedstocks are available to the aviation sector, securing low-cost renewable electricity, hydrogen, and carbon capture infrastructure for PtL, and achieving coordinated government policies to foster innovation and investment. Regional leadership from North America, Brazil, Europe, India, China, and ASEAN will be critical to global SAF output.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, highlighted the broader benefits of SAF. “The report highlights the local and regional opportunities for SAF production to create jobs, stimulate economies and support energy security goals. Governments, energy producers, investors, and the aviation sector must work together, de-risk investment, and accelerate rollout. Policy certainty and cross-sector collaboration are essential to unlock the scale we need. The time to act is now, delays will only make the challenge harder,” she said.

Walsh added, “With this study it becomes clear that we can make SAF the solution it needs to be for aviation’s decarbonisation. The potential to turn SAF feedstock into real SAF production is in the hands of policymakers and business leaders, particularly in the energy sector. The conclusion of this study is an urgent call to action. We have just 25 years to turn this proven potential into reality.”