The European Union has set an ambitious course for aviation decarbonisation through the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/2405). Central to this regulation are the binding Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) targets that airlines and fuel suppliers must meet from 2025 through 2050.
These targets are not just numbers; they represent a fundamental shift in how Europe intends to fuel aviation, reduce emissions, and meet its broader climate goals. This guide outlines the complete timeline of SAF blending requirements, compliance obligations, and what they mean for the aviation sector.
SAF Mandates: The 2025–2050 Timeline
The ReFuelEU framework sets a progressive increase in SAF blending obligations for aviation fuel suppliers at Union airports
- 2025: Minimum 2% SAF in aviation fuel.
- 2030: Minimum 6% SAF, with at least 1.2% synthetic fuels.
- 2035: Minimum 20% SAF, including 5% synthetic fuels.
- 2040: Minimum 34% SAF, with 10% synthetic fuels.
- 2045: Minimum 42% SAF, with 15% synthetic fuels.
- 2050: Minimum 70% SAF, with 35% synthetic fuels.
Why Synthetic Fuels Matter
Synthetic aviation fuels, produced from renewable electricity and captured carbon, are a cornerstone of ReFuelEU. Their decarbonisation potential is close to 100% emissions savings compared to fossil jet fuel, making them indispensable for long-term climate neutrality.
Compliance Milestones for Airlines and Fuel Suppliers
ReFuelEU introduces strict compliance and reporting requirements:
- Fuel Suppliers must ensure SAF availability in line with targets, report volumes and sustainability characteristics annually, and compensate for any shortfalls in subsequent years.
- Airlines must uplift at least 90% of their yearly fuel at each EU airport to prevent fuel tankering and submit verified annual reports on fuel use and SAF uptake.
- Airports must provide infrastructure to enable SAF distribution and prepare for hydrogen and electric aviation in the future.
Penalties for non-compliance are designed to be dissuasive, often twice the cost of the shortfall, with revenues directed to SAF development.
Practical Considerations for Airlines
To meet these targets, airlines should begin preparing now by:
- Securing long-term SAF contracts with certified suppliers.
- Integrating SAF reporting systems aligned with EU ETS and CORSIA requirements.
- Engaging with airports to ensure SAF infrastructure is in place.
- Exploring EU funding (Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund, CEF Transport) to mitigate cost impacts.
This combination of regulatory obligation and financial opportunity makes early action a competitive advantage.
The Strategic Importance of the SAF Timeline
The 2025–2050 SAF trajectory offers predictability for investors and operators, ensuring a stable demand signal for SAF producers while pushing the sector toward Europe’s climate neutrality goals. It also aligns with ICAO’s Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) of net-zero aviation emissions by 2050, positioning the EU as a global leader in sustainable aviation policy.
VURDHAAN’s Expertise in SAF Targets and Compliance
At VURDHAAN, we work closely with airlines, airports, and fuel suppliers to make sense of complex regulatory frameworks like ReFuelEU. Our expertise covers:
- Compliance planning: Building systems to meet SAF blending and reporting obligations.
- Strategic procurement: Supporting stakeholders in negotiating sustainable fuel supply contracts.
- Policy insight: Tracking EU timelines and upcoming revisions to anticipate market shifts.
- Financial pathways: Identifying and guiding applications for EU funding and incentive programs.
By turning regulatory requirements into actionable strategies, VURDHAAN enables aviation stakeholders to stay ahead of compliance deadlines while strengthening sustainability leadership in a competitive industry.