Rethinking the Way, We Fuel Flight
In the evolving landscape of aviation, the conversation around emissions is no longer just about future goals. It is now about the mechanisms that can deliver immediate impact. One such mechanism making quiet but significant strides is the Book and Claim system—a concept gaining ground thanks to a new pilot programme launched by Airbus.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel has long been touted as a crucial enabler of decarbonisation in air travel. Yet despite the enthusiasm, challenges in logistics, pricing, and infrastructure have kept widespread adoption at bay. The Book and Claim method presents a compelling alternative by decoupling physical fuel delivery from its environmental value.
What Is Book and Claim
To understand the significance of Airbus’s move, it’s essential to grasp what Book and Claim means in practice. This system enables an operator to purchase the environmental attributes of SAF—essentially buying the carbon benefits—without needing the fuel itself delivered directly to their aircraft. In other words, SAF can be consumed where it is most readily available, while the environmental credit is transferred to a customer elsewhere.
This method is particularly beneficial for operators based far from SAF supply points or for those procuring only small volumes. It opens the door to inclusion in the sustainability transition, without requiring immediate access to physical infrastructure.
Airbus Steps In as a Neutral Facilitator
The novelty of the current development lies in the structure Airbus has adopted. Instead of merely promoting SAF, the aircraft manufacturer has positioned itself as a facilitator. It will procure SAF certificates through the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials registry—a respected sustainability certification platform—and make them available to aircraft and helicopter operators.
By securing these certificates upfront, Airbus mitigates the financial risks for SAF producers while making it easier for customers to access decarbonisation benefits. This positions the manufacturer not just as a seller of aircraft, but as a platform for broader industry transformation.
Building a Supportive Ecosystem
The significance of this pilot lies not just in its mechanics, but in its collaborative spirit. Airbus has already garnered interest from leading names across aviation finance and operations, including SMBC Aviation Capital, AerCap, Comlux, and Luxaviation. Their participation signals a collective commitment to shared sustainability ambitions.
Such collaboration is key. Aviation’s sustainability challenge cannot be solved in silos. A system-wide transition needs robust partnerships between manufacturers, operators, investors, and regulators. By designing a programme that benefits multiple actors across the chain, this initiative becomes more than a compliance tool—it becomes an ecosystem enabler.
Beyond Physical Infrastructure: Decentralising Decarbonisation
The Book and Claim mechanism subtly redefines how decarbonisation can be operationalised in aviation. Traditionally, efforts have relied heavily on physical infrastructure: pipelines, blending facilities, and airport storage. This model takes a different route, one that is digital and decentralised.
It acknowledges that while physical SAF deployment may be slow, the environmental benefits can still be mobilised swiftly through smart accounting and credible certification. This becomes particularly valuable in regions where SAF infrastructure will take years to materialise.
A Pathway for Smaller Operators
Smaller operators have historically found it difficult to access SAF due to scale, cost, or logistics. This initiative offers a meaningful solution. By lowering the barriers to entry, the programme introduces a way for these operators to participate in the energy transition with minimal disruption to operations.
More importantly, it provides an on-ramp to larger sustainability frameworks. With access to certified SAF credits, even smaller firms can begin integrating credible Scope 1 reductions into their emissions disclosures. This supports both voluntary climate reporting and emerging regulatory compliance obligations.
Verifiability and Trust
One concern often raised around Book and Claim systems is credibility. Without direct fuel delivery, how can one ensure that the emissions savings are real, and that double-counting is avoided?
This programme addresses that concern head-on through third-party certification. The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials registry ensures traceability, auditability, and compliance with sustainability criteria. This makes the system robust, verifiable, and ready for integration into both corporate ESG reporting and regulated carbon markets.
Bridging Voluntary and Regulatory Markets
Perhaps one of the more forward-looking implications is the potential for such systems to bridge the voluntary and regulatory spheres. Today, many sustainability actions live in the voluntary space—reporting to CDP, setting Science Based Targets, or disclosing under frameworks like TCFD.
But with policies like ReFuelEU Aviation gaining traction, the line between voluntary leadership and regulatory obligation is beginning to blur. A tested, certified Book and Claim system could help operators meet both expectations with flexibility and confidence.
Why This Moment Matters
The timing of this initiative is strategic. Global SAF mandates are on the horizon. Investment is flowing, but bottlenecks persist. By piloting Book and Claim now, Airbus is not just facilitating a market mechanism—it is road-testing a model for scalable, inclusive emissions reduction.
This moment also reflects a growing realisation: decarbonisation is not solely about infrastructure. It is about innovation in process, partnership, and accountability. The value lies not just in the fuel, but in the frameworks that make it accessible.
Conclusion
The Book and Claim pilot launched by Airbus represents more than a clever workaround to fuel logistics. It is an intelligent systems-level intervention, crafted to include the many operators who might otherwise be excluded from the sustainability conversation.
By making environmental benefits tradable, credible, and scalable, the programme opens new doors for progress—today, not just tomorrow. It shows how thoughtful design can deliver near-term impact while laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more equitable aviation future.
As more players come aboard, this model could become not just a technical solution, but a powerful story of how collaboration and creativity can redefine sustainability in the skies.