The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in partnership with Worley Consulting, has published a study confirming that sufficient sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstock exists to enable the airline industry to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. All feedstocks considered meet strict sustainability requirements, avoiding any impact on land use.
The report concludes that the availability of raw material will not be a limiting factor, but stresses that rapid acceleration of SAF production is critical. Current commercial facilities rely almost exclusively on HEFA technology, which converts waste oils into fuel. Scaling up new technologies, such as power-to-liquid (PtL), will be essential to achieve the 500 million tonnes of SAF annually required under IATA’s Net Zero Roadmap. Biomass has the potential to provide more than 300 million tonnes a year, while PtL would supply the balance, supported by advances in renewable energy, hydrogen and carbon capture.
Key challenges identified include the slow pace of technology deployment, competition for feedstocks with other hard-to-abate sectors, and insufficient infrastructure to support large-scale production. The report stresses that investment in supply chain logistics, conversion efficiency, and commercial-scale facilities across all regions is necessary if aviation is to meet its climate commitments.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said the findings offered “unequivocal evidence” that feedstock availability is not a barrier but warned that “we need shovels in the ground now”. Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Chief Economist, highlighted the potential for SAF production to stimulate economies and support energy security, but called for urgent cross-sector collaboration to de-risk investment and ensure policy stability.
The study identifies North America, Brazil, Europe, India, China and ASEAN as crucial to future SAF output, and urges governments and the energy sector to act decisively. According to IATA, the next 25 years will determine whether aviation can turn this proven potential into reality.
