IATA projects global sustainable aviation fuel production at 2.4 Mt in 2026

Based on · First reported 3 Oct 2026

The International Air Transport Association projects that global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production will reach about 2.4 million tonnes in 2026.
SAF is a drop‑in fuel that can be blended with conventional kerosene and used in existing aircraft engines, and it can be produced from renewable or recycled feedstocks such as used cooking oil, animal fats, agricultural and forest residues, waste, or from green hydrogen and captured CO₂ (e‑SAF). Its life‑cycle CO₂ emissions can be reduced by up to 80 % compared with fossil kerosene, depending on the production pathway. The projected 2.4 million tonnes would represent only 0.8 % of airlines’ fuel consumption and cost roughly US$4.3 billion, while SAF currently costs between two and five times more than conventional kerosene, and up to eight times according to some estimates.

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