Provisional figures from the UK Department for Transport indicate that the country is unlikely to meet its 2025 targets for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use. The data shows that, although the mandate specifies a 2% SAF content in the aviation fuel mix, actual consumption accounted for only 1.6%—a shortfall of 20%. In total, approximately 160 million liters of SAF were used, out of 10 billion liters of jet fuel burned in the UK until early October.
The UK government introduced the SAF requirement in January as part of its efforts to reduce aviation-related carbon emissions. Despite current figures, officials suggest that SAF volumes are gradually increasing, and final data will be published in November 2026. So far, most SAF has been produced from recycled cooking oils imported from China, highlighting supply limitations.
The industry notes that SAF emissions are comparable to conventional jet fuel during flight; however, the net carbon footprint is significantly lower due to its production process. While some environmental groups remain skeptical about the scaling of SAF, industry leaders see it as the key pathway to decarbonizing commercial and long-haul flights.
Enhanced incentives at Heathrow Airport aim to accelerate SAF adoption, and ongoing policy discussions consider the feasibility of future mandates under economic and environmental considerations. The global proportion of SAF in jet fuel remains minimal, at 0.6% in 2025, with a slight forecasted increase to 0.8% in 2026. Industry representatives remain optimistic that SAF use in the UK will grow substantially in the coming years, despite these challenges.
