Sustainable aviation fuel accounted for 2.8% of aviation fuel supplied in the EU in 2025, exceeding the initial 2% minimum under ReFuelEU Aviation, GreenAir News reported, citing EASA’s annual implementation report. Suppliers recorded 1.1 million tonnes of SAF within total aviation fuel deliveries of 39.3 million tonnes at 121 airports across all EU member states.
The reported SAF volume was roughly six times the 193,000 tonnes delivered at 33 airports in 2024. EASA said 86% of the SAF supplied in 2025 was produced within the EU, while the number of member states hosting operational or announced SAF production facilities reached 18. The ReFuelEU minimum rises to 6% in 2030, alongside a separate 1.2% requirement for eSAF.
Financial support for uptake also increased. According to GreenAir News, around 5.2 million EU Emissions Trading System allowances, valued at approximately €430 million, were distributed to 130 airlines and other aircraft operators to support SAF use in 2025. The allocation was more than four times the free allowances provided in 2024 and came in addition to a €135 million incentive from zero-rating SAF consumed on routes covered by EU ETS surrender obligations.
Biofuels and advanced biofuels claimed under the 2025 support arrangements totalled more than 530,000 tonnes, contributing to approximately 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide abatement. Separately, GreenAir cited German press agency dpa as reporting that Germany’s transport ministry would impose penalties of €1,332 per tonne for airlines’ shortfalls against the required SAF use.
Airline purchasing agreements are also extending access to supplies. United Airlines expanded its agreement with Neste for blended SAF at Amsterdam Schiphol and Chicago O’Hare. FedEx signed agreements with undisclosed suppliers expected to secure more than 20 million gallons of neat SAF across five US airports during 2027.
On the production side, Montana Renewables announced a revised facility expansion expected to lift annual SAF capacity to 200 million gallons by the end of 2028, GreenAir News reported.