EU SAF mandate: 2% SAF for Departing Flights

EU regulators will require a minimum 2% blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on all departures from EU airports starting November 2025.

The European Union’s new SAF mandate requires a minimum 2% blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on aircraft departing EU airports from November 2025. The rule is part of the bloc’s broader decarbonization push and aims to cut lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions from aviation. Airlines, airports and fuel suppliers are already adjusting commercial and logistical plans to meet the new standard.

What the SAF mandate requires

The SAF mandate applies at point of departure: fuel uplifted at EU airports must meet the 2% blending floor. This is a supply-side regulation — not a per-flight emissions tax — and it sets the baseline for further increases in coming years. Regulators say the measure will be phased up over time, giving the market room to expand SAF production and certification capacity.

• Who is affected: all commercial flights departing EU airports must carry the blended fuel.
• Start date: the mandate takes effect in November 2025.
• How it works: fossil jet fuel is blended with certified SAF to reach the 2% floor.
• Industry response: airlines and fuel suppliers must secure SAF supply chains to comply with the SAF mandate.

Meeting the mandate creates near-term operational and commercial challenges. SAF production today is limited and typically costs more than conventional jet fuel, so carriers will need procurement deals, long-term offtake contracts or partnerships with producers. At the same time, current certified SAF pathways allow use in existing turbine aircraft without engine modifications, which smooths initial implementation.

Expect announcements in the months ahead as airlines and fuel companies publish supply agreements, and as regulators clarify reporting and verification processes. We’ll monitor developments and report changes to blend targets, timetables and industry reactions as they unfold.