The transition of aviation towards a decarbonized operating model has reached a decisive regulatory and quantitative milestone in the European Union. According to the report published by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on September 17, 2026, the European aviation sector refueled 1.1 million tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) out of a total of 39.3 million tonnes of jet fuel supplied during the 2025 fiscal year.

This volume formally exceeds the 2% minimum legal threshold set by the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation for its first year of mandatory implementation, establishing the initial milestone outlined in the Union's regulatory roadmap.

1. Supply Growth and Airport Coverage Across the EU

Data validated by EASA indicates an unprecedented acceleration in the physical distribution of SAF within EU territory between 2024 and 2025:

• Volume Increase: Sustainable aviation fuel supplied at EU airports grew from 193,000 tonnes in 2024 to 1.1 million tonnes in 2025, representing a growth rate of nearly 600% (almost a sixfold increase year-over-year).

• Expansion of Supply Network: The number of airports receiving SAF supplies expanded from 33 airfields in 2024 to a total of 121 in 2025.

• Territorial Reach: This network now covers 79% of Union airports distributed across all 27 Member States.

Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA, noted that through this monitoring work, EASA is building a solid evidence base to track progress, understand how the European SAF market is developing, and identify where additional support may be required.

2. Industrial Capacity and Domestic EU Production

The balance sheet of the first year of regulatory enforcement demonstrates significant industrial self-sufficiency within the European space:

• Production Origin: 84% of the total SAF volume supplied at EU airports in 2025 was produced within the European Union itself.

• Synthetic Fuel Milestones: The EASA report highlights the entry into service of the EU's largest synthetic fuel demonstration plant during the past year.

• Project Pipeline: Nearly 50 additional SAF production projects are currently awaiting a Final Investment Decision (FID) within the European industrial sector.
  
  

3. Regulatory Roadmap: Heading Toward 2030 and 2050 Targets

Initial compliance with the ReFuelEU Aviation mandate sets the stage for a timeline of increasing requirements designed to transform the energy mix of commercial and business aviation across Europe:

• 2025: Minimum legal mandate of a 2% SAF blending ratio (surpassed in its first year).

• 2030: Mandatory target to reach a 6% sustainable fuel blending ratio.

• 2050: Progressive scaling of regulatory requirements up to a mandatory 70% SAF share.

While exceeding the first regulatory threshold by nearly a full percentage point above the legal minimum provides a positive signal regarding the sector's scaling capacity, EASA's report emphasizes the necessity of continued investment in industrial infrastructure to sustain the growth rate required by law in the coming years.

Conclusion: A Transparent Commitment To Aviation Sustainability

Compliance with ReFuelEU Aviation mandates demonstrates that aviation decarbonization is advancing on verified data, expanding infrastructure, and a robust regulatory foundation.

Europair continuously monitors European aviation regulations and the expansion of the SAF supply network to provide businesses, agencies, and clients with transparent, up-to-date guidance on air operations across Europe.

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