Author: Hardeep Singh

Overview of the Latest Update

The new edition of the Aeroplane Operator to State Attributions presents a clear and organised view of how operators are linked to their respective States. It includes updated information for six hundred and ninety aeroplane operators across one hundred and thirty five States, along with notes on cases where the latest data was not submitted. This expanded clarity strengthens the quality of information available to the aviation community.

Importance of the Update

Accurate attribution supports long term planning for airlines and State authorities. It ensures that each operator is placed within a consistent framework for reporting and future compliance. Reliable information builds confidence among regulators and technical teams who rely on precision when preparing monitoring activities. The transparent structure of this edition offers a dependable reference point for ongoing and upcoming reporting cycles.

Key Insights for Industry Professionals

The tables in the document offer a detailed list of operators and their assigned identification methods. This helps sustainability teams and operational planners who need a trustworthy source for annual assessments. Knowing the correct attribution for each operator simplifies internal coordination, supports efficient carbon related actions, and reduces risk during compliance planning.

As aviation continues to move toward stronger environmental accountability, organisations that already guide transport stakeholders can use this improved clarity to support operators taking steps toward enhanced reporting readiness. The update creates space for deeper industry alignment and more informed decision making.

Conclusion

This edition highlights a steady shift toward stronger data accuracy and more predictable reporting systems. Operators now have a more stable foundation for planning, while supporting organisations can use this strengthened dataset to guide meaningful progress in aviation sustainability.

Download Document File Here: CORSIA Aeroplane Operator to State Attributions

Strengthening Trust Through Transparency in Aviation Climate Action

The latest update to the CORSIA Central Registry Information and Data for Transparency marks another important step in the evolution of international aviation climate governance. Released by ICAO in December 2025, this update reinforces the growing emphasis on credibility, consistency and trust within the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International.

Why the CORSIA Central Registry Matters More Than Ever

At the heart of CORSIA lies a simple but powerful principle what gets measured and verified builds confidence. The Central Registry plays a critical role by publicly listing accredited verification bodies across participating States. This transparency ensures that emissions data reported by airlines is independently assessed using globally aligned standards.

The thirteenth edition now reflects information on sixty-two verification bodies from thirty-six States showing a steady expansion of global participation. This signals that more national systems are aligning with international expectations around emissions monitoring reporting and verification.

A Quiet Signal of Market Maturity

Beyond the numbers this update offers a deeper insight. As verification capacity grows across regions the aviation sector is quietly building the institutional foundations needed for long term climate accountability. A wider geographic spread of accredited bodies reduces bottlenecks improves access for operators and supports smoother compliance as CORSIA moves deeper into its implementation phases.

It also reflects increasing confidence from States in putting their data frameworks into the public domain. That level of openness is essential for maintaining credibility not only with regulators but also with investors customers and sustainability professionals tracking real progress.

What This Means for Airlines and Stakeholders

For airlines this development reduces uncertainty. A more robust and transparent verification ecosystem means clearer expectations fewer surprises and better planning for future compliance cycles. For the wider industry it reinforces the idea that climate action in aviation is moving from policy ambition to operational reality.

Conclusion

The updated CORSIA Central Registry may appear technical at first glance, but its implications are strategic. By strengthening transparency and expanding verification capacity ICAO is laying the groundwork for trust at scale. For sustainability focused aviation stakeholders this is a reminder that durable climate action is built not only on targets but on systems that make progress visible measurable and credible.

Download Document File Here: Part I: List of Verification Bodies Accredited in States – Dec 2025

ReFuelEU Aviation Exemptions and What They Really Mean for the Sector

The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation continues to shape how Europe accelerates the use of sustainable aviation fuels. A recent update clarifies the list of accepted exemptions established under Article 5.3, offering valuable insight into how regulators are balancing ambition with operational realities.

Rather than slowing progress, these exemptions provide a structured way to ensure compliance remains practical and effective.

Understanding the Purpose of Article 5.3

Article 5.3 allows certain exemptions where physical supply of sustainable aviation fuel is not feasible. This applies mainly to specific airports or fuel supply situations that currently lack the infrastructure or logistical readiness.

The intent is clear. The regulation maintains its long term decarbonisation goals while recognising short term constraints that could otherwise disrupt operations.

Why This Update Is a Positive Signal

The publication of an accepted exemption list brings regulatory clarity. Airlines and fuel suppliers now have greater certainty on where flexibility applies and where obligations remain firm.

This clarity reduces compliance risk, supports better planning, and encourages investments to be directed where they will have the most impact. Importantly, exemptions are defined and limited, reinforcing that they are transitional rather than permanent solutions.

What It Means for Airlines and Airports

For airlines, the update supports more accurate compliance strategies by aligning fuel sourcing plans with realistic supply conditions. Airports included in the exemption list gain time to prepare infrastructure without being sidelined from the broader sustainability transition.

This approach avoids penalising operators for constraints outside their control while keeping the overall system accountable.

A Strategic Moment for the Industry

The exemption list should be viewed as a planning tool, not a loophole. It highlights where supply chains need strengthening and where collaboration between regulators, fuel suppliers, and operators is most urgently required.

Conclusion

The accepted exemptions under Article 5.3 demonstrate that effective climate regulation can be both firm and pragmatic. By combining flexibility with transparency, ReFuelEU Aviation continues to move the sector forward while enabling a smoother transition toward sustainable fuel adoption.

Download Document File Here: List of accepted exemptions established pursuant to Article 5.3 of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation

A Subtle Shift in How Progress Is Measured

The updated list of Union airports in scope of ReFuelEU Aviation for the 2026 reporting period reflects a quiet but important evolution in how aviation sustainability is being operationalised across Europe. While the regulation itself remains firmly intact, the adjustment in airport coverage highlights how data-driven thresholds and traffic realities are shaping implementation pathways.

Rather than viewing changes in scope as exclusions or rollbacks, it is more useful to see them as calibration. The framework is actively aligning regulatory ambition with real world operational scale.

What the Removal of Certain Airports Tells Us

One notable change between the 2025 and 2026 reporting periods is the removal of Stockholm Bromma from the in scope airport list. This shift does not indicate reduced climate ambition. Instead, it reflects updated passenger data and evolving traffic distribution within national airport systems.

In practice, this means regulatory focus is becoming more concentrated where fuel demand and emissions impact are highest. For policymakers and industry stakeholders, this improves efficiency while maintaining environmental integrity.

Why This Is a Positive Signal for the Sector

A more targeted scope allows sustainable aviation fuel deployment to scale where it matters most. It also reduces unnecessary administrative burden for smaller airports while keeping the overall trajectory toward decarbonisation firmly on track.

For airlines, fuel suppliers, and airport operators, these refinements underline the importance of continuous monitoring rather than one time compliance. Regulatory readiness is no longer static. It is dynamic and closely linked to operational data.

Preparing for What Comes Next

The 2026 list reinforces one clear message. Sustainability regulation in aviation is maturing. Stakeholders who actively track scope changes and interpret them strategically will be better positioned to respond efficiently and credibly.

This is an opportunity to move beyond checklist compliance and toward smarter integration of sustainable fuels, reporting systems, and long term planning.

Conclusion

The ReFuelEU Aviation airport scope update for 2026 is less about who is in or out and more about how regulation is sharpening its focus. For the aviation ecosystem, this precision creates space for meaningful progress, provided stakeholders stay informed, adaptive, and proactive in translating regulatory signals into action.

Download Document File Here: List of Union airports established pursuant to Articles 2.4 and 3.1 of ReFuelEU Aviation (2026 reporting period)

Partnership overview

Cathay Group has signed a multi year agreement with Neste that secures a steady supply of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel for operations in Europe, the United States and Asia Pacific. Blended with conventional jet fuel, the product is already powering Cathay Pacific flights departing Amsterdam and Los Angeles, while supporting Air Hong Kong cargo services from Singapore Changi. The arrangement reinforces Cathay ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

How the logistics work

SAF produced at Neste facilities is shipped to regional terminals, blended under international standards, then certified before uplift. This end to end model removes complexity for airlines and lets Cathay purchase carbon savings outright, without developing bespoke infrastructure at every airport.

Impact beyond numbers

Although initial volumes represent a small portion of overall demand, the move sends a signal to refiners and financiers that consistent offtake exists across three continents. That confidence can unlock larger batch production and lower unit costs faster than isolated national programmes. Other carriers can purchase remaining blend capacity, further multiplying environmental impact.

Non-obvious insight

Cargo operations often run higher load factors than passenger flights, meaning every tonne of SAF used by Air Hong Kong reduces more emissions per flight hour. By targeting freighter routes early, Cathay gains disproportionate climate dividends while maintaining supply chain reliability.

Next steps

Cathay is inviting corporate customers to join its Fly Greener scheme, allowing firms to purchase SAF in proportion to their travel footprints. Combined with fleet renewal and operational efficiencies, the airline expects to cut lifecycle emissions intensity by over twenty percent within this decade.

Conclusion

The Cathay Neste alliance exemplifies how coordinated procurement can speed up aviation decarbonisation well before novel aircraft technologies arrive. By demonstrating practical supply chains today, the partners are laying foundations for a wider global SAF market.

Source – Cathay Group

Government vision 2026 to 2030

The Korean ministries of transport, environment and industry have released a joint roadmap aimed at trimming projected airport emissions by ten percent by 2030. With passenger growth expected to push emissions close to thirty million tonnes, the plan focuses on operational excellence and increased use of sustainable aviation fuel SAF.

Core measures

Mandated SAF blending

From 2026, international flights departing Korea will use at least one percent SAF, rising to between three and five percent after 2030. The requirement encourages airlines to secure long term contracts, bringing production plants inside the country into commercial view.

Operational efficiencies

Changes to air traffic sequencing and gate assignment are expected to shorten taxi times, cutting fuel burn without infrastructure expansion.

Financial incentives

Recognising that SAF presently costs about three times conventional jet fuel, the government proposes partial cost sharing mechanisms and green finance packages to keep fares stable.

Domestic supply chain advantage

Building local refining capacity would create skilled jobs in port cities and reduce exposure to volatile oil markets. It also positions Korea as a supplier to neighbouring island economies.

Non-obvious insight

By capping standby time on the apron, authorities indirectly create micro windows where ground power demand peaks. Coordinating this with charging schedules for electric ground vehicles can smooth electricity loads, enabling greater integration of onsite renewables.

Industrial ripple effects

Local refiners and biotech firms are already exploring feedstocks such as municipal waste and algae. Concurrent government support for export oriented certification will let Korean produced SAF compete in regional markets, amplifying domestic scale benefits.

Conclusion

Korea has paired clear SAF targets with pragmatic operational reforms and financial support, providing a replicable template for other rapidly growing aviation hubs. The approach addresses technology, policy and economics together, paving the way for cleaner air travel without limiting connectivity.

Source – BioEnergyTimes

Why pooling matters

Under the rule, ship operators earn compliance points when voyages use low greenhouse gas energy. Points can be transferred within fleets or between partners, transforming emissions management into a tradable resource. By entering a multi segment pool, Avin can offset occasional shortfalls with surpluses generated by other members such as Bore and Neste, smoothing cash flow and protecting charter rates.

A commercial insight

A less obvious benefit is charter negotiation leverage. Pool membership provides verified emissions data across a diversified fleet, giving Avin stronger evidence when requesting green premiums from cargo owners that wish to lower scope three footprints. In a market where emissions visibility is rapidly becoming a buying criterion, shared data can be as valuable as physical fuel savings.

Technology alignment

Avin continues investing in modern tonnage, including an ammonia ready Suezmax tanker. Pool participation therefore complements, rather than replaces, technology progress. Ahti Climate supplies decision dashboards that connect regulatory targets with practical levers such as speed optimisation and fuel selection, helping crews translate rules into daily routines.

Growing momentum

Analysts expect similar pooling frameworks to proliferate as FuelEU targets tighten through 2030. Banks applaud the model because collective performance reduces risk, potentially lowering financing costs for upgrades such as wind assist devices and alternative fuel systems. Early movers like Avin are establishing reputational capital that could influence cargo allocation on EU routes.

Conclusion

By coupling advanced ships with a collaborative compliance pool, Avin International turns regulation into strategic advantage while moving European tanker trade toward lower emissions.

Source – Breakbulk.News

Building a European Electric Locomotive Platform

KKR will acquire a majority stake in Vienna based Green Mobility Partners, releasing capital to modernise rail fleets across the continent. Founded in two thousand twenty four, the company leases Siemens Vectron locomotives on long term contracts, allowing operators to adopt electric traction without major upfront cost.

Deal Snapshot

• Investment comes through KKR infrastructure funds focused on energy transition
• Founder Christoph Katzensteiner and his team will continue leading operations
• Closing is expected after routine regulatory approvals

Non-Obvious Insight: Leases Multiply Incentives

Public programmes often subsidise only a portion of new locomotives. A leasing model stretches those incentives by circulating each financed asset through several contracts during its life, multiplying the climate impact of every euro of support and accelerating network wide electrification.

Decarbonisation Impact

Rail already emits far less than road freight, yet thousands of diesel units remain in service. KKR estimates that replacing one hundred of them with electric models could avoid nearly four hundred thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide over ten years. Electrified freight also frees grid renewable power during off peak night hours. The firm has committed more than thirty one billion dollars to transition infrastructure, bringing experience and scale to the challenge.

Growth Strategy

Fresh capital will fund additional Vectron orders and selective acquisitions of smaller lessors, building a truly pan European pool. Larger fleet volumes should unlock purchase discounts, enabling lower lease rates that entice more operators to switch.

Conclusion

By combining deep infrastructure capital with an agile leasing specialist, KKR and Green Mobility Partners create a powerful catalyst for cleaner rail transport across Europe.

Source – ESG News

Why the Agreement Matters

DHL Express has signed a binding offtake contract with Finnish producer Neste for fifty million litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel delivered during 2026. By arranging supply ahead of the ReFuelEU Aviation mandate, the company guarantees volume and cost predictability at a moment when many carriers are still planning their approach. This forward thinking move positions DHL to keep freight moving while pursuing its net zero roadmap.

Compliance and Competitive Advantage

Beginning January 2026 all jet fuel distributed at European airports must contain a rising minimum share of SAF. Analysts expect demand to outpace near term production. DHL has therefore shifted from reactive purchasing toward long range procurement. The move secures three distinct advantages:

• Regulatory readiness that eliminates last minute compliance pressures
• Budget certainty insulated from possible price spikes when quotas rise
• Credibility with customers requesting carbon informed logistics

A non-obvious insight emerges early movers can treat confirmed emission reductions as strategic inventory. Similar to spare aircraft parts, guaranteed litres of low carbon fuel carry optionality. They support future operations or can be reassigned through pooling agreements, creating a secondary market for SAF entitlements.

Building Toward Broader Net Zero Goals

The company intends to source more than thirty percent of all transport energy from sustainable alternatives by 2030. Parallel initiatives include electrifying most last mile vehicles and using data guided flight planning to improve payload efficiency. The new contract with Neste complements these efforts by targeting the highest emitting segment of the network, intercontinental air.

Market Signals

Global SAF production doubled during the past two years but still represents less than one percent of total aviation fuel. Long range contracts like this one encourage producers to finance additional refineries and feedstock collection, accelerating the climb toward meaningful scale.

Conclusion

This proactive purchase by DHL demonstrates how regulation can spark collaboration that benefits both climate and commerce. Forward contracting turns sustainability into a measurable business advantage while giving fuel makers confidence to expand.

Source – CarbonCredits

Partnership Overview

Siemens Mobility has awarded DHL Supply Chain a long term contract to distribute critical train components from modern distribution centers in Kettering and Goole to maintenance depots across the United Kingdom. The agreement spans routine deliveries as well as rapid same day shipments that keep passenger services running smoothly.

Sustainability at the Core

Seventy percent of the dedicated DHL fleet already operates on hydrotreated vegetable oil, delivering around eighty percent lower carbon intensity compared with conventional diesel. The remaining vehicles will transition during the next twelve months, making this one of the first rail supply chains in Britain powered entirely by renewable fuel.

Digital Visibility Advantages

DHL will orchestrate every movement through its Connected Control Tower in Tamworth. By integrating live telematics and order data, Siemens planners gain up to the minute insight into part locations, lead times and route efficiency. This transparency enables proactive decision making that minimises inventory buffers yet safeguards service reliability.

Economic Impact

Moving to HVO also yields tangible financial gains. Because the fuel burns cleaner, engines require fewer DPF regenerations and oil changes, cutting maintenance expenses by up to ten percent. Reduced idling time from optimised routing adds further savings, proving that green strategies can directly strengthen the bottom line.

A Non-Obvious Insight

When logistics data illustrates pattern changes in component demand, Siemens maintenance teams can adjust inspection intervals before faults arise. This predictive link between transport analytics and asset management transforms the supply chain from a cost center into a performance enhancer, reducing unplanned downtime without adding extra staff or vehicles.

Conclusion

The partnership unites advanced fuel strategy and data driven execution to set a fresh benchmark for rail logistics. By combining renewable energy, real time visibility and collaborative planning, Siemens Mobility and DHL Supply Chain are creating a resilient blueprint that can inspire wider adoption across the transport sector.

Source – Global Railway Review