Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is often described as “too expensive.” But what really drives this perception? In our upcoming webinar, The Cost of Compliance, we will unpack the true cost elements behind SAF and explore how greater clarity can shape investor confidence, airline appetite, and financing conditions.
Moderated by Andrew Doyle (Cirium), the expert round will feature a dynamic exchange of views from across the aviation value chain. Speakers include Dana Shoukroun(Invest Through Flying), Nikhil Sachdeva (Roland Berger), Dorottya Durucsko (Wizz Air), and Gregoire Le Comte (European Commission, DG MOVE).
Topics include:
Breaking down the “SAF premium”: what it is, how it impacts airlines, and the degree of transparency or negotiability in supplier pricing.
Mechanisms to narrow the price gap – from long-term offtakes and pooling to subsidies and market incentives.
The role of transparency in improving bankability, financing terms, and long-term contracting.
How EU SAF allowances can support offtakers, including eligibility criteria and procedures for allocation and pay-out.
Join us for a deep dive into the economics of SAF and what they mean for airlines, suppliers, and financiers navigating the path to compliance. Registration opens soon!
✈️🌍 Scaling e-SAF in Europe: Policy, Offtakes, and the Road to FID
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Amy Hebert, CEO of Copenhagen-based Arcadia eFuels, to discuss the company’s progress — and the hurdles — in scaling up its e‑SAF production plant in Denmark.
Arcadia eFuels is working to bring large-scale e-SAF to market as an active member of Project SkyPower, aiming for a Final Investment Decision (FID) by the end of 2025 and operations by 2030.
But the challenges are clear: 🔹 Bankable long-term offtakes remain elusive — the voluntary SAF market, while “nice,” isn’t enough to finance major projects. 🔹 The upcoming EU Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) could be a game‑changer, with price support for e‑SAF and measures to de‑risk investment. 🔹 Early‑stage funding and competitive green hydrogen incentives are critical — yet Europe lags behind the U.S. and UK in hydrogen support. 🔹 The EU is holding firm on its ReFuelEU mandates — a strong signal that e‑SAF will be part of aviation’s decarbonization pathway.
💬 As Amy Hebert puts it: “If we had a long-term offtake agreement in hand, we could be at FID pretty immediately after that.”
📽️👇 Watch the interview with Amy Hebert and read the full article by Eduardo Mariz Cortiñas, Senior Analyst and Sustainability Lead at Ishka: Aviation Finance, in our Insights 2025 report to learn why Europe’s path to large‑scale e‑SAF is technically feasible — but politically complex.
Our mid-year report “impact –Insights 2025” is out! Enjoy an insightful read of articles, interviews and updates dealing with the trending topics in aviation sustainability!
This year’s edition of impact – Insights covers the full spectrum of challenges and innovations shaping aviation’s path to Net Zero. From SAF supply to financing, emissions to regulation—we break down the real forces reshaping our industry.
What’s inside?
🛢️ Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
How a leasing company’s bold move into SAF production challenges the traditional role of lessors—outlier or visionary?
Why the EU’s Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) could be pivotal to unlocking e-SAF offtakes
What a detailed cost analysis reveals about compliance with ReFuelEU: “too expensive” isn’t the whole story
📈 Emissions Trends
Aviation’s CO₂ emissions are now above 2019 levels—why efficiency alone isn’t enough
Why airlines are still flying older, fuel-hungry twin-aisle aircraft—and what’s holding back fleet renewal
Will the EU’s 20 million “free SAF allowances” meaningfully accelerate green fuel adoption?
🏗️ Finance & KPIs
How airport sustainable finance is evolving to include aircraft emissions KPIs and Scope 3 targets
We spotlight easyJet’s decarbonization strategy, bridging delivery gaps and transition challenges
🎤 Special features include ✨ Highlights from the ISTAT / impact Sustainability Symposium and 🚀 The Sustainable Aero Festival, where emerging tech, regulation, and business models converge
Expert insights from our member-exclusive talks, reflecting the complexity and interdependence of aviation’s transition
The aviation transition is multi-layered, fast-moving, and interconnected—and impact – Insights 2025 is your guide to staying ahead of it.
From transition to delivery: Lahiru Ranasinghe on steering easyJet’s decarbonization effort
impact sat down with Lahiru Ranasinghe, easyJet’s recently-promoted Director of Sustainability, who shared how the airline is shifting gear — from long-term planning to delivering tangible progress on its path toward Net Zero. Having led the development of easyJet’s Net Zero strategy, Lahiru now oversees delivery across all sustainability fronts — from flight operations and engineering to ground activities. The airlines’ aim is to build internal capabilities to progressively reduce its’ environmental impact.
🌍 With aircraft delivery delays still impacting the sector, easyJet continues to prioritize fuel-saving operational efficiencies across Europe, one of the world’s most complex airspace environments. But there’s a limit to what airlines can do alone — airspace modernization across Europe is essential to unlock 10% emissions reductions industry-wide.
🚀 Scaling SAF and Supporting Innovation easyJet is actively meeting SAF mandates across its 30+ European bases, while also pushing for progress on eSAF policy as part of Project SkyPower. Long-term, the airline sees hydrogen as the only viable route to truly zero-carbon flight for its short-haul network — and is backing its development accordingly.
📉 Tracking emissions reduction The airline uses emissions intensity (CO2 per RTK) as its main progress metric. easyJet also closely monitors peers’ sustainability efforts to benchmark its own, but sees the journey to Net Zero as an industry-wide challenge that requires collective progress.
💬 “We cannot afford to be one of the few heavy emitters left in the world when we get into the 2040s and 2050s,” Lahiru notes. “There’s a lot at stake.”
Stay tuned to read the whole article in impact’s “Insights 2025” to be published on July 14!
Can commercial aviation realistically develop and adopt the new technologies crucial to achieving Net Zero by 2050? This questions was addressed during impact’s first webinar on June 12, hosted by ISTAT as one of its Learning Lab sessions.
Aviation stands at a critical juncture in its decarbonization journey. The path to Net Zero will be shaped by technology — but what’s truly possible over the next 15 years? The expert round, moderated by Michael Halaby (MUFG), featured Jonathon Counsell (IAG), Sandrine Lacorre (CFM International), Dan Rutherford (ICCT) and Julian Renz (ZeroAvia) for a lively discussion on topics including
🔍 What’s a realistic trajectory for aviation’s technology shift? 🛩️ How big a step can Airbus and Boeing take by 2035? 🔥 Can gas-turbine innovation still surprise us? 🚀 Is a new tech player capable of launching a mainline airliner by the late 2030s? 📉 What are the risks of inaction vs early-mover advantage? 🐉 Could China emerge as a disruptive force in global aviation?
We had the pleasure to collaborate with ISTAT for their fourth Sustainability Symposium on April 29, hosted by Avolon in Dublin.
The day began with opening remarks from Bryson P. Monteleone, ISTAT and impact Board member and Andy Cronin, followed by a compelling keynote from Brian Moran, who introduced CASCADE—Boeing’s forecasting tool on emission reduction—and emphasized the critical role of the energy sector in scaling SAF production.
🏆 GA Telesis was honored with the ISTAT Sustainability Award for its bold SAF goals and alignment with the UN SDGs.
Here some highlights from the panel discussions: 🏛️ Policy Challenges in Sustainable Aviation: Moderated by Paul Sheridan, Donal Handley and Thomas Fowler examined regulatory complexities, including the EU Omnibus proposal, EU Taxonomy, and the SAF mandate. The discussion called for better regulatory alignment and tailored approaches, and considered the role of EU ETS funds in scaling SAF.
📊 Macroeconomic Trends & Aircraft Values: Led by Jim Morrison, expert speakers Richard Evans, Ben Chapman, and Stephen Rooney focused on robust air travel demand despite economic uncertainty, supply chain impacts on fleet renewal, and how macroeconomic forces influence sustainability investments. Topics also included climate risks like fuel price volatility and residual value concerns.
🛫 Interactive Discussion: Financing Future Technologies: Marc Tembleque Vilalta moderated a session with Sandrine Lacorre and Hal Calamvokis exploring engine innovation, including CFM International’s RISE program for fuel and emissions reduction. The discussion also covered green hydrogen development and public acceptance of emerging engine designs.
🔋 SAF & Aircraft Technology Innovations: Moderated by Michael Rurik Halaby, FRAeS, Daniel Da Silva, Julien Manhes, and Ivor van Dartel showcased next-generation aircraft concepts—from JetZero’s aerodynamic efficiencies to VÆRIDION’s electric regional aircraft. Airbus emphasized the importance of SAF feedstock clarity, demand stimulation, and robust offsetting frameworks.
💵 Strategies for Sustainability-Linked Loans & Leases: Dr. Ulrike Ziegler 🇺🇦, Chairwoman of the Board of impact, led a discussion with Jean Chedeville, Kaiori Creed, Emma Giddings, and Gordon Grant on the rising significance of sustainability- and transition-linked finance, emphasizing the need for transparent metrics, regulatory consistency, and solutions to bridge the SAF financing gap.
The ISTAT Sustainability Symposium 2025 underscored the immense challenges ahead but also highlighted the unwavering commitment and innovative spirit driving the decarbonization of the aviation industry. It was an exceptional day of learning, connecting, and a renewed sense of purpose in navigating this complex but crucial journey.
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