Sustainable Aviation Fuel Adoption: The Social and Political Factors

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can be used in current aircraft, yet it made up only about 0.6 percent of global jet fuel use in 2025. The reasons are mostly not technical. Price, government rules and public support decide how fast it grows. This guide covers the main social and political drivers, with the latest figures we could verify.

Where adoption stands

IATA estimated that SAF production would reach 1.9 million tonnes in 2025, double the 2024 level, but still only 0.6 percent of total jet fuel consumption. It projected 0.8 percent the following year. IATA also said SAF costs roughly twice as much as fossil jet fuel, and up to five times as much in some mandated markets. It blamed weak policy support for slower-than-hoped growth. For an overview of the fuel itself, see our guide to aviation fuel types.

Government policy

Mandates and subsidies are the biggest drivers, because airlines will not buy a more expensive fuel without a reason.

Region	Main approach	Key targets
European Union	ReFuelEU Aviation: fuel suppliers must provide a minimum SAF share	2% in 2025, 6% in 2030, 20% in 2035, 34% in 2040, 42% in 2045, 70% in 2050, with a synthetic fuel sub-target from 2030
United Kingdom	SAF mandate on fuel suppliers	2% in 2025, 10% in 2030, 22% in 2040
United States	Tax credits and state programmes rather than a national mandate	Credit rules were changed by 2025 legislation, so check the current position

The EU figures come from the ReFuelEU Aviation summary. The obligation falls on fuel suppliers, not airlines. IATA has argued that mandates alone do not raise production, because they raise demand without giving producers the funding to build plants.

Public opinion and passengers

• Awareness of climate impact: concern about flying emissions is real, and it encourages airlines and corporate travel buyers to look for lower-carbon options.
• Willingness to pay: surveys often show that people say they would pay more for lower-carbon flights, but actual purchases at higher prices are much smaller.
• Trust: passengers need to be sure that SAF is safe and that the climate claim is real. Clear rules on feedstock and certification help.
• Corporate demand: large companies now buy SAF certificates to cut business-travel emissions, which supports early plants.

How these factors affect acceptance of SAF:

Factor	Impact on SAF Acceptance
Environmental Concerns	Increases acceptance
Cost Concerns	May decrease willingness to pay premium prices
Information Availability	Enhances understanding and support

The main obstacles

• Cost: the price gap with fossil jet fuel is the main barrier.
• Feedstock supply: used cooking oil and waste fats are limited, and crops raise land-use concerns.
• Policy stability: producers need long-term rules to raise investment, and changes of government can disrupt plans.
• Misinformation: unclear claims about what SAF can and cannot do lead to distrust or unrealistic expectations.
• Certification: every pathway must be approved, as we explain in our article on the challenge of SAF certification.

What to watch

The next tests are the EU's 2030 targets, the pace of new plants and whether other regions adopt rules. Read about producers that have already scaled in SAF success stories. Companies that supply fuel and related services are listed under fuel, and you can find consultants who advise on emissions programmes.

Frequently asked questions

Is SAF safe to use in normal aircraft?

Approved SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel and used in standard aircraft. Approved blends meet the same fuel specifications.

Who pays for the higher price?

Airlines pay first. Costs are passed on through fares or covered by mandates, subsidies and corporate buyers.

Do mandates work?

They create demand. IATA says they need to be paired with support for production to bring prices down.