Sustainability is increasingly shaping fleet planning, fuel procurement and ground operations across business aviation, with fleet modernisation and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) emerging as the principal emissions-reduction measures. Gulfstream’s reaccreditation under the National Business Aviation Association’s Sustainable Flight Department Accreditation Program highlights the operational focus, with the OEM reporting a 44% reduction in fuel consumption and flight emissions across its flight-department fleet against a 2019 baseline.
Gulfstream became the first aircraft manufacturer to earn reaccreditation in all four programme categories, covering flight operations, ground support, infrastructure and operational management. Its 2025 SAF use delivered nearly 719.8 metric tonnes of emissions improvements, while electric ground equipment and vehicle-charging infrastructure helped reduce ground-support emissions by 18%.
Honeywell’s 2026 Global Business Aviation Outlook identifies fleet renewal as the most effective sustainability strategy among surveyed operators, while SAF remains a major priority. The outlook forecasts almost 14,000 business aircraft deliveries between 2026 and 2035, including 9,950 business jets and 4,200 turboprops, increasing the importance of fuel efficiency as the global fleet expands.
At NBAA-BACE 2026 in Las Vegas, industry panellists examined SAF availability, emissions reporting, regulatory requirements and preparations for operators and fixed-base operators. Avfuel’s Keith Sawyer said the panel expects SAF to be available through every FBO by 2030, although supply, infrastructure and documentation requirements remain practical challenges for operators.