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Can aviation be sustainable? The industry wants to be, but the production of sustainable fuel PURE continues to disappoint.
If we ask an average passenger today in Rio de Janeiro, the answer is clear: «I want to fly, But I want it to be sustainable.". In fact, the 89% of travelers believe the industry must reduce its emissions at any cost. Nevertheless, behind that will, There is an industrial drama that was discussed in the hallways of the 82nd IATA AGM: We have more desires than gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (PURE).
The imbalance: 0.8% of reality against a goal of 100
The figures of THERE IT IS for 2026 They are a slap in the face of political rhetoric. The overall production of PURE will barely reach 2,4 millions of tons, which covers a tiny 0,8% of total airline consumption. All this, at a cost of 4.300 millions of dollars for the industry.
Willie Walsh, CEO of THERE IT IS, nothing was saved: «Five years after committing to net zero for 2050, the PURE it's just him 0,8%. “Every year of ineffective government policies and lack of interest from oil companies makes the road more difficult.”.
E-SAF: The jump into the void without a network
If the panorama of PURE conventional is complicated, that of the e-SAF (synthetic fuel) verges on poorly planned science fiction. The European Union and the United Kingdom have already set ambitious mandates to 2030, demanding 0,6 millions of tons.
Does the problem? Actual production capacity—operational or under construction—is only 0,02 millions of tons. We would need to build 20 commercial scale refineries right now to fulfill that mandate.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA Chief Economist, He described these goals as “absolutely disconnected from reality.”. Your argument is compelling.: Imposing mandates before production is viable is a “reckless” strategy that will only serve to skyrocket prices without reducing a single ton of real CO2.
The most fascinating of the data presented is the profile of the current passenger. It's no longer just about complaining about climate change; the consumer is taking control:
- 48% of travelers already check carbon emissions before booking.
- 66% is willing to pay more to offset its emissions.
- The 25% prefers that this money go directly to SAF, instead of taxes that are often lost in the fiscal coffers.
The roadmap
IATA has put four priorities on the table to break the deadlock:
- More renewable energy, without her, there is no SAF.
- That fuel can reach airports without monopolies.
- Incentives rather than mandates and punishments.
- Implement a “carbon accounting” system (book-and-claim) so that the SAF does not remain only in the country where it is produced, but rather that it flows where the network needs it.
The conclusion is obvious, the passenger is ready and wants to be part of the solution. The big question that remains in the air is when governments and major oil companies will decide to transform promises into liters of real fuel..
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