Turkey sets 2030 targets for sustainable aviation fuel use

Turkey's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, has announced new targets for reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Following the implementation of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Directive by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM), the country is initiating a low-carbon transition process.

The ministry has set a minimum carbon dioxide emission limit of 13 grams per liter for 2026, aiming for a 0.5 percent reduction per liter. The long-term goal is to achieve a 5 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions via SAF by 2030.

Uraloğlu noted that SAF is a critical solution because it can be used in existing aircraft engines without requiring technological modifications or fleet renewals. He also highlighted that while electric transport is growing in other sectors, the weight and energy density requirements of long-haul flights make liquid fuels, specifically SAF, more viable than current battery technology for commercial aviation.