How Business Aviation Is Quietly Leading a Sustainable Shift
In recent years, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was often considered more of a public relations tool than a practical solution—used symbolically during industry events or high-profile flights. But today, SAF is moving beyond symbolic gestures to become a credible pathway for decarbonisation in business aviation.
The quiet but determined shift from visibility to viability is gaining momentum, and business aviation operators are at the forefront.
A Growing Web of Access Points
Business aviation sustainability specialist 4AIR has updated its SAF availability map, verifying over 100 global locations—up from fewer than 20 in 2021. This rapid growth, highlighted by COO Nancy Bsales, is a sign that the industry is not just making promises but building infrastructure.
Currently, SAF is available for business aviation at 92 airports—47 in the United States and 43 across Europe, with emerging access in Asia and the Middle East. This expansion addresses one of the sector’s most persistent barriers: supply inconsistency at smaller regional airports.
Compliance Without Complexity
The European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation introduces a 2% SAF blending mandate at designated European airports for operators exceeding 500 flights annually. For many business aviation operators, this presents a significant operational shift.
Titan Aviation Fuels International, based in Geneva, is assisting clients in navigating these mandates. Their approach goes beyond fuel supply—they monitor compliance locations, provide tailored cost breakdowns, and help operators understand when and where they must comply.
This compliance strategy offers an intelligent model for managing regulatory demands without overwhelming operators, especially smaller fleets lacking in-house sustainability teams.
Empowering With Documentation
As SAF availability increases, the need for transparent usage tracking has grown in parallel. 4AIR’s Assure SAF Registry, built on blockchain, enables operators to document their SAF usage accurately for both voluntary disclosures and regulatory requirements. This isn’t just about emissions—it’s about credibility.
Documentation tools like these are fundamental to fostering trust in book-and-claim systems, which allow operators to invest in SAF even when they cannot uplift it physically due to supply or location constraints.
New Narratives at EBACE 2025
This year’s reimagined EBACE event in Geneva spotlighted the sector’s growing maturity. While SAF-powered flights to the show remain symbolic, the real conversations happened on compliance strategy, SAF market development, and client demands for measurable action.
The presence of leading business jet operators and sustainability leaders revealed a shift in tone. As Pascal Lhoest of NetJets noted, client expectations are changing rapidly, and operators must adapt to retain trust and relevance.
The Role of Practical Guidance
To support operators further, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has released a guide on anti-tankering compliance. With limited internal compliance capabilities in many operators, such practical tools are crucial for turning regulation into actionable steps.
Importantly, the ReFuelEU regulation places supply responsibility on airports and fuel suppliers, while anti-tankering obligations rest squarely on operators. The guide outlines strategies to balance both roles without compromising on cost or compliance.
Building Resilient Supply Chains
Signature Aviation and Jet Aviation are also expanding SAF availability across Europe and North America. With plans to add over 50 million gallons of blended SAF throughout 2025, Signature is solidifying its commitment to a low-carbon infrastructure.
Jet Aviation, operating globally, continues to grow its on-site SAF availability while offering book-and-claim access to clients worldwide.
This is no longer an aspirational pipeline—it’s an operational priority.
The Emerging Philosophy of Efficiency
Perhaps most striking was the message from Thorsten Luft of Vaeridion, a company developing nine-seater electric aircraft. “Efficiency, purpose and climate responsibility are no longer optional,” he said. “The companies that deliver all three will shape the future.”
This ethos aligns with the strategic direction now guiding business aviation: where once sustainability efforts were reactive or symbolic, they are now becoming systemic, embedded in procurement, planning, and passenger expectations.
Conclusion: Scaling Action Over Optics
What we are witnessing is a strategic pivot. Business aviation is shifting away from sustainability as symbolism and towards sustainability as strategy. With platforms like 4AIR’s SAF map and Assure Registry, and regulatory navigators like Titan Aviation Fuels, the sector is scaling up quietly but convincingly.
The real story is not just about who flies into Geneva on SAF—it is about the growing infrastructure, compliance intelligence, and client alignment that ensures these flights aren’t one-off gestures but part of a scalable, traceable, and credible movement.