Europe’s aviation sector has reached a key clean fuel target for 2025, with airlines using more sustainable aviation fuel than expected, marking steady progress toward reducing emissions, News.Az reported.
Officials said the industry has met—or possibly exceeded—the requirement set by the European Union that at least 2% of aviation fuel used at airports must come from sustainable sources. This is a sharp jump from about 0.6% recorded in 2024.
European Union Aviation Safety Agency chief Florian Guillermet said early estimates show the sector has achieved the target, with final figures expected later this year.
The development comes as a positive surprise, as there were earlier concerns that airlines and fuel suppliers might fall short due to high costs and limited availability of sustainable fuel.
Major airlines under Airlines for Europe, including Ryanair, Lufthansa and International Consolidated Airlines Group, have stepped up efforts to increase the use of cleaner fuel.
At the same time, industry groups have urged policymakers to review future targets, especially for synthetic fuels, which are still expensive and not widely available. However, the European Commission has made it clear that it will continue with its existing plans.
Under current rules, the share of sustainable aviation fuel is set to rise to 6% by 2030, with further increases planned in the following years.
Officials say keeping these targets in place is important to encourage investment and increase production, especially as the aviation sector faces pressure from rising fuel costs and global supply issues.
The progress made so far is seen as an important step in Europe’s efforts to make air travel cleaner, though challenges related to cost and supply still remain.
