Could SAF Be a Cost-Effective Solution to Rising Aviation Fuel Prices?

With the price of conventional aviation fuel skyrocketing in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, could sustainable aviation fuel, aka SAF, offer any relief? FLYING takes a look.

Thom Patterson

Thursday, May 05, 2022 at 10:24 AM ET

Verified

Virgin Atlantic struck a deal last February with fuel provider Neste to supply 2.5 million litres of SAF to Virgin’s fleet. [Photo: Thom Patterson]

Key Takeaways:

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is currently 2-4 times more expensive than conventional jet fuel, making it an unviable immediate solution to rising oil prices.
The high cost of SAF stems primarily from low demand, limited production infrastructure, and complex supply chains for its renewable raw materials.
In the long term, SAF's price competitiveness could improve through government incentives (like tax credits), increased production volume, and potential carbon taxes on conventional fuels, which are crucial for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

See a mistake? Contact us.

With the price of conventional aviation fuel skyrocketing in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, could sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offer any relief?

For a while now, governments, major airlines, and several aviation organizations have been encouraging the industry to embrace SAF to help achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This is because SAF burns more cleanly and is made from renewable resources, such as used cooking oil and grain.

Could SAF Be a Cost-Effective Solution to Rising Aviation Fuel Prices?

With the price of conventional aviation fuel skyrocketing in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, could sustainable aviation fuel, aka SAF, offer any relief? FLYING takes a look.

Key Takeaways:

Sign up to keep reading

Sign up to keep reading

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?