UK airlines respond to Government Net Zero Plan

March 30th, 2023

Commenting on the publication of the Government’s Net Zero Plan, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:  

“The SAF mandate consultation is extremely positive and will help to incentivise a market in SAF production. Likewise, we welcome the second round of the Advanced Fuels Fund which will assist with much of the planning and construction work for the initial SAF plants here in the UK.

 

“That said, we have long been clear that whilst a mandate creates demand for SAF it does not provide revenue certainty for producers in what is still a nascent industry. Airlines will pick up SAF as required by Government – either at home or through imports – but existing policy will not provide certainty to investors who want to build here in the UK and produce SAF locally.

 

“Without a clear commitment to a revenue certainty mechanism, without the need for public subsidy, in the coming days we risk this investment – and the tens of thousands of jobs and huge export potential from a homegrown SAF industry – going to the US, who announced their own support for SAF production months ago. We look forward to working with HM Treasury and the Department for Transport at pace to agree ways of ensuring this opportunity isn’t lost.”