EU Requires 2% Sustainable Aviation Fuel on Departures

The EU has moved to require a minimum 2% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend on every flight leaving its airports, effective immediately.

The mandate demands that all flights departing European Union airports use at least a 2% blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Regulators say the measure aims to reduce aviation emissions and accelerate the commercial rollout of lower‑carbon fuels across carriers operating in and out of the EU.

Industry groups have long pushed for predictable policy signals to spur investment in SAF production; this rule gives airlines and fuel suppliers a concrete baseline to plan against. The requirement applies at departure, meaning fuel uplift and blending practices at EU airports will be directly affected.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel: what this means now

Operationally, airlines will need to update fuel sourcing, contracts and refuelling workflows to meet the 2% minimum. Airports and ground handlers must coordinate storage and blending logistics. Economically, the mandate could raise fuel procurement costs in the near term while creating steady demand that supports new SAF production projects.

• Mandate: 2% minimum SAF blend on departures — a guaranteed demand signal for SAF producers.
• Scope: All flights departing EU airports, across all carriers operating within the bloc.
• Impact: Short‑term challenges for fuel logistics; longer‑term support for SAF scale‑up and investment.

Airlines will likely pass some incremental fuel costs into fares or absorb them depending on commercial strategy; low‑cost, network and flag carriers will respond differently. The measure dovetails with broader EU climate targets and complements other tools such as fuel‑efficiency standards and carbon pricing mechanisms. For passengers, the change should be invisible at the gate but meaningful for the industry’s emissions trajectory if SAF supply scales up.

Sources

• Aviation International News