New Delhi: India is moving ahead with plans to use cleaner fuel in aviation as global rules to reduce aircraft emissions take effect from January 2027. While final guidelines are still being prepared, industry officials say the country already has the resources and airport facilities needed to meet its international commitments on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), according to The Economic Times.
India will follow emission rules under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Under the scheme, airlines will gradually start mixing SAF with regular jet fuel, beginning with international flights.
Deepak Ballani, Director General of the Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association, said India’s total need for SAF could rise to about 0.72 billion litres by 2030 to meet CORSIA requirements.
The government has indicated blending targets of 1 per cent in 2027, 2 per cent in 2028 and 5 per cent by 2030. As a member of ICAO, India must comply with the mandatory phase of CORSIA from 2027.
Ballani said India has developed a strong biofuel ecosystem and is now the world’s third-largest biofuel producer. He said the country’s ethanol blending programme has created enough capacity to support SAF production. Even after accounting for processing losses, he added, the ethanol needed for aviation fuel would remain within surplus levels and would not affect existing fuel programmes.
Airport authorities said India’s major airports are already ready to handle blended aviation fuel once national rules are announced. A senior official from the Airports Authority of India said both private airports and those operated by AAI can switch to SAF use without major changes.
Rajesh Nilkanth Shinde, Executive Director (Technical) at AAI, said the basic infrastructure is already in place and only the fuel composition will change. He added that where facilities are missing at smaller airports, they can be created without much difficulty.
Shinde said discussions are underway among the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and fuel suppliers on blending levels, certification and production volumes.
Fuel supply at airports is currently managed by companies such as Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. At large airports like Delhi International Airport, fuel systems are run through joint ventures between oil companies and airport operators.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is drafting a national SAF policy aimed at giving long-term clarity to airlines and investors. Satish Kumar, President and Executive Director of the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy, said blending levels will depend on government targets and how airlines manage fuel costs in ticket pricing.
Globally, SAF costs more than conventional jet fuel, often two to three times higher due to limited supply and higher production costs. However, Ballani said the effect on airfares in India is expected to be small in the early stages.
He said that at a 1 per cent blend, the increase in fuel costs would be minimal and unlikely to have a noticeable impact on ticket prices. Costs are expected to come down over time as domestic production increases and technology improves.
Aviation accounts for about 2.5 per cent of global carbon emissions, largely from aircraft fuel use. Along with SAF, aircraft makers are also working on planes that consume less fuel and emit fewer emissions.
India is currently the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market. Passenger numbers are expected to grow sharply to around 1.1 billion by 2040, while the aircraft fleet is projected to expand more than five times. Experts say this growth makes it essential for India to put strong measures in place now to support cleaner air travel in the future.
