IATA said global sustainable aviation fuel production is expected to reach about 2.4 million tonnes in 2026, equal to 0.8% of commercial aviation fuel use, in what it described as another disappointing year for SAF production.
The association said that output level would cost airlines about $4.3 billion. Willie Walsh repeated IATA’s call for more policy support, better access to renewable energy supply, improved fuel infrastructure access and development of a global SAF market.
IATA said commercial-scale SAF refineries are needed to meet target volumes and mandates, putting the focus on industrial capacity rather than demand alone. The release was issued on 2026-06-06 and was the latest reliable development on the topic.
The figures underline how limited SAF penetration remains in commercial aviation, with production still a small fraction of total fuel use even as the industry continues to frame SAF as central to its path toward net zero by 2050.