Some 83% of aviation industry leaders in the United States, including senior figures across airlines, airports, investors, producers, regulators, and policymakers, believe that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) holds promise for job creation, a new report by PA Consulting has found.
According to the report, Cacophony to Symphony: Successfully scaling sustainable aviation fuel, some 19% of US aviation leaders are currently using or investing in SAF, which is slightly below the global average of 23%.
Confident outlook
However, at the same time, US respondents are among the most confident with regard to the potential of SAF, with 93% citing it as ‘essential’ to the aviation industry’s decarbonisation efforts, even if just over a third (34%) believe widespread adoption will be achieved by 2030.
Three fifths (59%) of investors, airlines, and airport respondents see SAF as ‘critical’ to national energy security, however more than half (53%) of airport respondents don’t currently have a SAF strategy in place, while 47% are yet to draw up a net zero roadmap.
Economic opportunity
“There’s a quiet confidence building across the US aviation industry that SAF is more than just a climate solution – it’s an economic opportunity,” commented Kata Cserep, global aviation lead at PA Consulting.
“This optimism is well-founded, as SAF has the potential to transform aviation and unlock regional economic growth. But belief must be matched by bold, coordinated action. Unlocking the full potential of SAF demands greater collaboration and investment across the entire ecosystem – from policymakers, investors and producers through to airlines, airports and regulators.”
The US isn’t the only country facing challenges in the rollout of SAF, with PA Consulting noting that ‘more targeted and faster measures’ will be needed to help unlock the fuel‘s potential.
‘Emerging policy frameworks, regional SAF hubs, and private sector momentum are contributing to confidence in SAF’s scalability,’ it added. Read more here.
