Bangkok: Thailand is accelerating the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from used cooking oil as part of its efforts to reduce aviation emissions and strengthen energy security amid growing volatility in global fuel markets.
The initiative comes as airlines worldwide seek alternatives to conventional jet fuel following recent geopolitical tensions that have pushed up fuel prices and highlighted the aviation sector’s dependence on fossil fuels, Nation Thailand reported.
Used cooking oil has emerged as a key feedstock for SAF because it can be converted into renewable jet fuel with significantly lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than conventional aviation fuel. Depending on the feedstock and production process, SAF can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% while also preventing waste oil from being discarded into landfills or the environment.
Thailand’s aviation sector has begun preparing for wider adoption of SAF through a coordinated effort involving the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), airlines and fuel producers.
In November 2025, CAAT signed a memorandum of understanding with eight domestic airlines, including Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Lion Air, Thai VietJet and K-Mile Air, to promote the voluntary use of SAF on international flights.
Under the agreement, airlines will be free to choose their fuel suppliers and refuelling airports as the country’s SAF supply chain develops.
Thailand aims for SAF to account for 0.5% to 1% of total fuel consumption on international flights from 2026, with higher blending targets expected in subsequent years as production capacity expands.
If the initial target is achieved, authorities estimate that carbon dioxide emissions from Thailand’s international aviation sector could be reduced by around 60,000 tonnes of COâ‚‚ equivalent in 2026.
The increased use of SAF is also expected to reduce airlines’ compliance costs under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which requires carriers to offset emissions above agreed levels.
Thailand’s move reflects a broader global push to expand sustainable aviation fuels as governments and airlines work to decarbonise air transport while reducing reliance on conventional fossil-based jet fuel.
