Implementation Timeline
Beginning in 2027 every international departure from Korean airports must uplift fuel containing at least 1 percent sustainable aviation fuel. Authorities plan steady increases reaching as much as 10 percent by 2035. Carriers will need ninety percent of their annual refuelling volume to meet the mandate from 2028. Fuel suppliers are equally responsible creating a full supply chain commitment.
Incentives for Early Movers
The ministries will reward airlines that exceed minimum blending levels. Benefits include additional points in route allocation expedited slot approvals and potential direct subsidies once operating data is reviewed. Passengers can voluntarily add a small SAF contribution during booking and receive lounge passes or other perks in return turning customers into visible partners for greener flights.
Practical Rewards List
· Extra traffic rights during peak seasons
· Reduced landing charges at designated airports
· Priority access to experimental synthetic SAF batches
Forward Schedule Checks
Regulators will publish interim reviews in 2026 and 2029 fine tuning blending targets in response to evolving feedstock supply forecasts.
Building Regional Momentum
Korean policy makers established a multi stakeholder SAF Alliance that aligns certification production and logistics. This collaboration should shorten project lead times for new bio refineries and attract overseas investors looking for policy certainty within Asia Pacific.
Non-Obvious Insight
Because airlines must demonstrate compliance across their entire annual refuelling volume high frequency short haul flights will likely become the first large scale testing ground for new synthetic SAF. These dense networks allow carriers to deliver rapid volume proofs accelerating learning curves for producers far faster than occasional long haul services.
Conclusion
Seoul has converted climate ambition into a clear rulebook that pairs firm targets with attractive incentives. By synchronising airlines refiners investors and travellers the country positions itself as a catalyst for wider regional cooperation and technology growth in sustainable aviation fuel.