Bloomberg examined why sustainable aviation fuel is advancing faster in Europe than in the United States, finding that European airlines bought more clean jet fuel than all US carriers combined last year. The gap reflects a policy split: binding EU rules are creating mandatory demand for SAF at Union airports, while adoption in the US remains more dependent on voluntary purchases and incentives.
The EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulation requires fuel suppliers at Union airports to begin blending SAF at 2% in 2025, with levels set to rise over time. The framework gives airlines and suppliers a long-term compliance path through 2050, helping shift buying behaviour now rather than later.
Bloomberg’s analysis points to a broader decarbonisation divide in air travel, with Europe using regulation to accelerate uptake more quickly than US carriers. North American production of cleaner jet fuel has grown, but that has not translated into the same level of airline buying in the US market.