Brussels, 17 February 2025 – EBAA, alongside a broad coalition of aerospace manufacturers, aircraft operators, airports, express delivery companies, fuel producers, and logistics service providers, has co-signed a letter urging the European Commission to introduce further flexibilities to the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. This joint industry letter, addressed to key European Commissioners and Directors-General, calls for the urgent adoption of a book and claim system to accelerate the deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) across Europe.

With aviation’s decarbonisation at the forefront of EU policy objectives, the scaling up of SAF production and distribution is crucial. However, current market conditions and regulatory challenges present barriers to the widespread availability of SAF. The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation introduces an obligation for fuel suppliers to provide SAF at major European airports, but physical supply constraints and uneven SAF distribution create inefficiencies that risk increasing costs and delaying adoption.

The joint letter highlights several key concerns impacting the SAF market:

• Many airports, including non-EU airports, will not have access to SAF in the short-to-medium term due to physical availability constraints.
• Uncertainties around feedstock definitions and a narrow scope of eligible materials have led to investment delays for new SAF production projects.
• SAF remains significantly more expensive than fossil-based jet fuel, with costs ranging from 1.5 to 10 times higher, impeding its economic viability.
• Current market rigidities prevent fuel suppliers and aircraft operators from efficiently accessing SAF, creating distortions that could disadvantage operators based on location.

To address these challenges, EBAA and its industry partners are calling for the European Commission to introduce a book and claim system—a mechanism that would allow SAF purchases and usage to be accounted for without requiring physical delivery to a specific airport. This would:

• Ensure a more efficient SAF market by enabling fuel suppliers to distribute SAF strategically rather than being restricted to physical supply at mandated airports.
• Provide aircraft operators with greater flexibility in SAF sourcing, ensuring compliance with sustainability regulations while reducing unnecessary costs.
• Encourage investment in European SAF production by creating a stable and predictable market framework, thus strengthening the continent’s energy security.
• Align with the EU’s digital transition by leveraging existing biofuel tracking systems, such as the Union Database for Biofuels, to prevent double-counting and ensure regulatory compliance.

The letter also highlights that book and claim would not impose additional costs on the EU or Member States, making it a cost-effective way to stimulate SAF production and adoption while ensuring that aviation can meet the EU’s climate targets.

With this initiative, EBAA reaffirms its commitment to advocating for practical, market-driven solutions that accelerate SAF adoption. As the European Commission continues to assess the future of SAF policy under the Clean Industrial Deal and Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP), EBAA remains steadfast in ensuring that the European business aviation sector has the necessary tools to decarbonise efficiently and competitively.