SAF-Related Goals Are Appearing Unsustainable
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) has been positioned as a key solution for reducing aviation emissions, but industry leaders are now questioning its short-term viability. High costs, limited supply, and ongoing scalability challenges are raising concerns about whether SAF can realistically meet ambitious decarbonisation targets.
Published: 20 June 2026
Written by: Shashwat Dwivedi
Sustainable Aviation Fuel has been at the centre of discussions around making aviation more environmentally friendly, but the industry is increasingly acknowledging that its targets may be difficult to achieve.
The Aviation Festival Americas conference, held recently in Miami, provided a clearer picture of SAF’s progress within the aviation sector. Several airline executives noted that high costs, limited supply, and scalability concerns have significantly tempered expectations.
“SAF’s such a joke,” Breeze Airways CEO David Neeleman said at the conference. “I cannot believe especially Europe got so sucked into the SAF thing... If airlines go 100% SAF, about three quarters of you will not have a job, you will have to go find something else to do, because no one will be able to travel.”
Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet, also voiced concerns regarding SAF’s cost and scalability in the near term, though he stopped short of dismissing it entirely. “I think the jury is out on SAF right now,” he said, adding that while SAF could eventually become viable, production capacity and clean energy infrastructure may not develop quickly enough to meet aggressive European Union targets. “In the short term and within the time frames that, for instance, the EU is driving it. There’s no way it’s going to work,” he added.
Industry leaders are increasingly shifting focus towards operational improvements and technological upgrades that can reduce emissions without requiring an immediate transformation of the aviation fuel supply chain. Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, pointed to Europe’s fragmented air traffic control system as a clear opportunity for immediate gains. “[IATA Director General Willie Walsh] has been very vocal, for example, with respect to the air traffic control system in Europe and how inefficient it is,” Alvo said. “Is it a path to net zero? No, of course not. But it’s a huge potential improvement.”
Neeleman argued that enforcing costly SAF mandates could ultimately hinder adoption, suggesting that greater emphasis should instead be placed on developing more efficient aircraft engines and expanding electrification in ground operations.
American Airlines Vice President of Sustainability Jill Blickstein highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that the airline used approximately 14 million gallons of SAF in 2025 compared to roughly 4.5 billion gallons of conventional jet fuel. “SAF costs two to three times what regular jet fuel costs,” she said. Feedstock competition and environmental concerns surrounding crop-based fuels also continue to complicate scaling efforts. However, she noted that SAF credit programmes have allowed corporate customers to help offset costs. “That’s what’s allowing us to buy SAF today,” she added.
Matthew Ridley, Director of Sustainability and Innovation at Oneworld, emphasised that the industry has moved beyond the initial optimism surrounding SAF and now has a more realistic understanding of the technology’s limitations and potential. “We now know a little bit more about what the solutions are that are going to work and not work,” Ridley said. He described replacing conventional jet fuel as “the last great challenge for aviation.”
Key Facts
SAF remains significantly more expensive than conventional jet fuel
Limited production capacity continues to restrict large-scale adoption
Airline leaders are questioning near-term EU SAF targets
Airlines are prioritising operational efficiency and technological improvements
American Airlines used 14 million gallons of SAF vs 4.5 billion gallons of jet fuel in 2025
SAF adoption is currently supported by credit programmes and corporate partnerships
Replacing conventional jet fuel remains aviation’s largest sustainability challenge
Related Articles
Planning growth, fleet changes or seasonal operations in 2026? Contact Brookfield to discuss your staffing and consultancy needs. Email: info@brookfieldav.com
Explore our full range of recruitment services, connecting aviation businesses with skilled pilots, aircraft engineers and industry professionals worldwide.
Author: Shashwat Dwivedi Aviation staffing and consultancy insights LinkedIn
