Corporate SAF certificate purchases could scale sustainable fuel market

A joint study by IATA, Airbus, and Accenture suggests that corporate purchases of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Environmental Attribute Certificates (EAc) could support between 1.0 million and 1.9 million metric tons of SAF annually by 2030. This represents a significant increase from the estimated 323,000 metric tons in 2024.

To address the high cost of SAF, which is typically two to three times more expensive than conventional jet fuel, the study proposes a ‘book-and-claim’ model. This model separates physical fuel from its environmental attributes, allowing companies to purchase certificates for verified emissions reductions without requiring the physical fuel to be delivered to their specific flight path. This mechanism could help airlines recover costs and provide corporate customers with flexible ways to address transport-related emissions.

In a related move to comply with stricter EU anti-greenwashing regulations, Lufthansa Group has rebranded its ‘Green Fares’ to ‘Impact Fare’. The change ensures compliance with directives that prohibit general environmental claims like ‘green’ or ‘environmentally friendly’ without documented, recognized performance. Under the new Impact Fare, Lufthansa Group commits to using additional SAF in its operations within six months of a booking, with contributions to climate projects covering the remaining emissions profile.