Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has issued a stark warning to European aviation stakeholders, stating that the continent faces a potential future fuel shock unless there is accelerated adoption of electronic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF).
The airline emphasized that without a robust push for e-SAF production and integration, Europe could encounter severe supply disruptions and price volatility in aviation fuels, mirroring past energy crises. SAS highlighted the critical role of e-SAF, a synthetic fuel produced using renewable electricity and captured carbon, in achieving net-zero emissions targets while ensuring energy security.
According to SAS executives, current SAF production scales fall short of demand projections, with e-SAF representing the most scalable pathway forward due to its compatibility with existing infrastructure. The carrier urged governments and industry partners to incentivize investments through policy measures like mandates and subsidies to ramp up output.
This caution comes amid growing regulatory pressure from the EU, including ReFuelEU Aviation mandates requiring SAF blends to rise to 70% by 2050. SAS noted that delays in e-SAF deployment could jeopardize competitiveness against regions advancing alternative fuels more aggressively.