EU Mandates 2% SAF Blend for All Departures

From November 2025 the EU will require a 2% SAF blend on every departing flight to jump‑start aviation decarbonization.

The regulation mandates a minimum 2% SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) blend for all aircraft leaving European Union airports starting in November 2025. The move is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, signal demand to producers, and accelerate investment in SAF production and distribution across member states.

What the 2% SAF blend mandate means for airlines

The rule applies to every operator and airline that departs from an EU airport — full stop. Airlines, ground handlers and fuel suppliers will need to put logistics, tracking and verification measures in place to show compliance. Regulators say higher SAF percentages will be phased in during later years as supply grows, though exact future targets vary by policy timeline.

• Who is covered: all airlines and operators departing EU airports.
• Start date: November 2025 for the 2% SAF blend requirement.
• Why it matters: creates baseline demand to scale SAF production and cut lifecycle CO2 emissions.
• Practical issues: fuel supply chains, record keeping, and cost pass‑throughs are top operational concerns.

Industry groups — including airlines, airport operators and fuel producers — are already assessing how the mandate will affect scheduling, fuel sourcing and ticket pricing. National authorities will publish compliance guidance and monitoring frameworks ahead of the November start; carriers should expect documentation and audit requirements at airports where they operate.

For passengers the change is largely invisible at the gate: aircraft will fly on a blended fuel stream rather than pure jet kerosene. For the broader industry, the EU’s move signals a regulatory push to mainstream SAF and reduce aviation’s carbon intensity over time. Operators that invest early in supply agreements and infrastructure will likely have an advantage as SAF capacity ramps up in the coming years.