Heathrow Airport has announced the expansion of its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) incentive program in 2026, aiming to reach a 5.6% SAF mix, exceeding the government mandate of 3.6% by two percentage points.

This measure has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 600,000 tons, solidifying the airport’s position as a leading driver of decarbonization in the aviation sector.

The incentive scheme seeks to encourage airlines to adopt SAF, nearly halving the price gap between conventional fossil-based kerosene and the sustainable fuel. This financial strategy has been key to accelerating the transition in a context where the cost differential remains one of the biggest obstacles to SAF expansion.

For the fifth consecutive year, Heathrow is reinforcing its carbon reduction program with the ambition of having Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) represent 11% of the total fuel supplied at the airport by 2030.

According to Matthew Gorman, Heathrow’s Director of Sustainability, the airport used approximately 17% of the global SAF supply in 2024, positioning itself as a global leader in adoption. He emphasized that SAF is a key driver for achieving climate neutrality in aviation by 2050 and a central pillar of the airport’s Net Zero Emissions Plan.

The expansion of the program reflects a growing trend in Europe towards economic incentive mechanisms that accelerate the production and consumption of sustainable fuels, in line with the sector’s climate objectives.

Source and Credits Heathrow

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