The RefuelEU Aviation Initiative seeks to boost the supply and demand for sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) by imposing increasing mandates on fuel suppliers to include SAF in aviation fuel supplied at EU airports, to all international flights. The proposal will also review incrementally increasing sub-mandates of synthetic fuels, such as e-kerosene, to be blended with kerosene jet fuel. The policy will also consider the sustainability criteria for feedstock classification as SAF. The initiative was proposed in February 2020 by the EU Commission, and a public consultation was launched to gather stakeholder views in March 2020. A review of the policy is scheduled to happen in 2027.
The final ReFuelEU policy agreement set ambitious e-fuel and SAF targets at regular intervals between 2025 and 2050, with initial opposition from the aviation sector transitioning to mostly supportive positions being adopted across the industry
Renewable Energy
Inactive: completed. The file was approved in September 2023.
Renewable Energy
Inactive: completed. The file was approved in September 2023.
In a May 2025 policy paper, Airlines for Europe (A4E) emphasized cost, competitiveness and carbon leakage resulting from climate policies for aviation and advocated against the extension of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to the aviation sector. A4E also appeared to advocate for the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to be aligned on the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) which would significantly reduce the ambition of the policy. However, it did call for a more ambitious CORSIA scheme. Finally, A4E emphasized cost, competitiveness, and carbon leakage concerns resulting from the EU SAF mandate but appeared to support it on the condition that a SAF Border Adjustment Mechanism is adopted.
In a 13 June interview at the Paris Air Show, the CEO of Air France-KLM, Ben Smith, emphasized competitiveness concerns resulting from climate policies for aviation, advocating for a level playing field. He stressed competitiveness concerns over the EU SAF mandate and the EU ETS, appearing to oppose the extension of the latter. Ben Smith was also unsupportive of the cap at Schiphol airport.
In a 16 May position paper, Airlines for Europe (A4E) supported the introduction of the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan. It supported an increased use of bio-based SAF in aviation in the short-term with clear support for a switch to synthetic fuels in the medium to long-term but advocated for a technology neutral approach.
A4E appeared to advocate for weaker policy measures to safeguard the impact of SAF production on carbon stocks, alongside pushing for crop-based SAFs. It also advocated for Recycled Carbon Fuels eligibility to be extended beyond 2041.
Additionally, A4E appeared to emphasize cost, competitiveness and regulatory burdens from both RefuelEU Aviation the Fit for 55 package, but advocated for additional aviation policies responding to climate change. Finally, A4E advocated for the reinvestment of the EU ETS revenues in SAF uptake.
At an Airlines for Aviation (A4E) summit held on 27 March, Benjamin Smith, Carsten Sphor, Luis Gallego, and Michael O'Leary, the CEOs of Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, the International Airlines Group, and Ryanair called for the EU sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate to be delayed until the further maturity of the SAF market. Lufthansa's CEO, Carsten Sphor, appeared to advocate for a less ambitious response to climate change and advocated to weaken climate policy for aviation. Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, advocated for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme to be aligned with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which would weaken the ambition level of the policy.
However, the CEO of Air France-KLM, Benjamin Smith, supported the introduction of a carbon border adjustment mechanism in the aviation sector. Additionally, A4E clarified that the aviation sector still supports net-zero by 2050 for the aviation sector, despite emphasizing concerns surrounding SAF supply and cost resulting from the EU SAF mandate.
On 04 February, Destination 2050, a coalition between different European industry associations including Airlines For Europe (A4E), AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe) and European Regions Airline Association (ERA), put out their new decarbonization roadmap.
It supports a long-term aspirational goal through ICAO of net-zero CO2 emissions from international aviation by 2050, supports the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, the Paris Agreement, supports the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for sustainable aviation fuel and advocated for increased use of bio-based SAF in aviation in the short-term with clear support for a switch to zero-emissions technologies in the medium to long-term. The roadmap appears to generally support policies incentivizing the production and uptake of SAFs. Destination 2050's roadmap supports continued free emissions of SAF allowances after 2030 and the inclusion of carbon removals under the EU ETS by 2026 alongside the re-investment of EU ETS revenues in clean technologies research and upscaling. The roadmap opposes any increase to SAF and e-fuel targets under ReFuelEU, but advocated for a gradual SAF supply increases of the SAF target under ReFuelEU.
More negatively, Destination 2050's roadmap opposes the EU tax on jet fuel and advocated for the alignment of feedstocks sustainability criteria for SAFs while advocating for the removal of non-biogenic CO2 restrictions. It also supports the Clean Industrial Deal but emphasize carbon leakage and competitiveness concerns from the Fit for 55 package, advocating that EU regulations must align with global measures.
In a January 11th joint statement, easyJet, KLM, Airbus and the Dutch Employers’ Federation (VNO-NCW) urged the introduction of a global kerosene tax on all flights and increased investment in international EU trains as an alternative to short-haul flights. The statement also supported the EU sustainable aviation fuel mandate, the removal of free emissions allowances under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, and the development of infrastructure and policies to enable electric and hydrogen aircraft. The statement did not appear to support an increase to national air passenger duty tax.
Following the adoption of the EU Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) mandate by EU Parliament on September 13th, press releases from Airlines for Europe and Wizz Air praised its adoption and advocated for further incentives to promote SAF markets. However, Lufthansa CEO, Carsten Sphor, reportedly criticized the SAF mandate in a September 15th Reuters article, arguing that the quotas are not achievable and will impose high costs on passengers.
In a joint statement on June 15th, Airbus, Boeing, General Electric, Rolls-Royce and Safran publicly advocated for further sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) incentive policies globally, alongside stating support for ReFuelEU and the US blenders tax credits for SAF
In a June 8th press release, Airlines for Europe, Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe and Airports Council International Europe supported the EU’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate. The press release asserted that decisions on the ReFuelEU aviation legislation should not be delayed further, and that the mandate should be “complemented with further incentives” through the inclusion of SAFs under the EU Net Zero Industry Act.
On June 5th, Reuters reported that International Air Transport Association (IATA) CEO, Willie Walsh, had criticized EU climate policies as “anti-aviation” at its AGM, appearing to oppose the EU sustainable aviation fuels mandate, alongside opposing the introduction of jet fuel taxes in Europe and extending the EU ETS to international flights
In a May 17th Tweet, Airlines For Europe (A4E) Acting Managing Director, Laurent Donceel, opposed the postponement of votes on the ReFuelEU legislation. Donceel stated that the impasse between France and Germany over the inclusion of nuclear energy in the Renewable Energy Directive was “jeopardising” the EU’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate, arguing that it is avoidable and shouldn't lead to renegotiations of the policy.
In a May 10th position paper, Airlines For Europe (A4E) opposed an EU jet fuel tax, emphasizing costs, competitiveness and carbon leakage concerns. A4E also argued the tax would impede tourism and decarbonization efforts by diverting funds from decarbonization solutions. In the position paper, A4E further appeared to leverage its support for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, EU sustainable aviation fuels mandate, and global Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme to oppose the kerosene tax.
In a May 2nd BTN Europe article, Lufthansa CEO, Carsten Sphor, appeared unsupportive of the inclusion of EU feeder flights under the EU’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate, stating the regulation is not “competition neutral”. Sphor also emphasized cost and carbon leakage concerns from the regulation.
Airlines For Europe’s (A4E) Acting Managing Director, Laurent Donceel, supported the provisional agreement on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandates under ReFuelEU Aviation initiative in an April 26th press release. Donceel further stated that the EU now needs to “follow through and help build a world-leading SAF industry”. In a 24th April Tweet, A4E advocated for “truly sustainable” SAFs which are not at the expense of “food supplies for people, or animals or damage the environment through deforestation”.
In a letter to Members of European Parliament on 2nd December, BusinessEurope did not seem to support higher national targets in the ReFuelEU Aviation Plan, and advocated for a transitional period for the phase in of sustainable aviation fuels. It also supported a weaker reform of the EU Emissions Trading System for aviation.
El Mundo reported on 26th November that the Spanish Business Federation (CEOE) seemed to be opposed to environmental taxes on the aviation sector and suggested the transition to sustainable aviation fuels would cause job losses. The association also seemed to be opposed to the ReFuelEU plan.
On November 30th, Airlines For Europe (A4E) Managing Director, Thomas Reynaert, released a letter providing policy recommendations ahead of an EU Transport Minister’s meeting occurring on December 5th. The letter appeared to support the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation while proposing exemptions for small airports and cautioned against targets for hydrogen and electric re-charging infrastructure for aircraft. It also supported an EU sustainable aviation fuel mandate while appearing to oppose the provision enabling member states to increase national mandates, suggest that fuel cost implications from the invasion of Ukraine be considered for interim targets, and emphasize carbon leakage concerns.
On December 5th, A4E released a YouTube video opposing an EU jet fuel tax, while supporting the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The video stated a jet fuel tax would undermine the EU ETS, distort competition and could lead to an increase in CO2 emissions.
Following trilogue negotiations on the EU ETS for aviation, A4E released a position paper on December 7th. The paper appeared supportive of the EU’s decision to maintain the scope of the EU ETS to intra-EU flights and create sustainable aviation fuel-based allowances, while opposing the proposed 2026 phase-out date for free emissions allowance.
The Federation of German Industries (BDI) published a position paper on the EU’s Fit for 55 package on 20th September, in which the association laid out its opposition to the 2035 zero emissions vehicle standard proposed by the EU Commission. In addition, the association supported quotas for low-CO2 and climate neutral aviation fuels as part of ReFuelEU Aviation, while emphasizing the risk of carbon leakage and the need for flexibility to compensate for additional costs, and called for "ambitious but realistic" quotas for biofuels in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).
In the same position paper, BDI advocated for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) test phase which only includes industries that support it, and the maintenance of free emissions allowances in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Furthermore, the entity supported the extension of the EU ETS for road transport and buildings, but not for aviation, and it did not support “inappropriate” Minimum-Energy-Performance-Standards (MEPS) in the Energy Performance Buildings Directive (EPBD), as well as not supporting an energy consumption cap in the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
In an August 29th policy brief, Lufthansa appeared unsupportive of the Fit for 55 package, emphasizing cost and competitiveness concerns. In particular, it appeared to support the exemption of EU feeder flights from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), and oppose an extension to include all flights departing the EU. Lufthansa also called for ReFuelEU Aviation to be “designed in such a way that it does not affect EU airlines unilaterally” and a sustainable aviation fuels compensation mechanism after the quota increases in 2030.
In a 12th July press release, industry association Hydrogen Europe advocated for a more ambitious blending mandate for synthetic fuels and the inclusion of green hydrogen in the ReFuelEU Aviation legislature. CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis called for higher ambition in the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED) 2030 targets, advocating for a 45% target by 2030 and higher transport sector sub-targets in a 13th July press release. However, he also supported weakening strict requirements for renewable hydrogen in the RED Delegated Act on Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBOs).
In a 27th June policy brief, Lufthansa appeared unsupportive of an extension of the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) to flights departing the EEA and the inclusion of non-CO2 impacts, as proposed by EU Parliament. It further appeared to emphasize cost, competition and carbon leakage concerns with the EU sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) mandate and advocated for a “competition-neutral” design, without specifying any specific amendments.
According to a June 9th media report, Airlines for Europe opposed a more ambitious Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) blending target of 6% by 2030, as proposed in the EU Council’s general approach, preferring the earlier mandate of 5%. Lufthansa appeared to stress competitiveness, carbon leakage and cost concerns with the Council’s position. In contrast, International Airlines Group welcomed the more ambitious target.
In an 8th June social media post, Hydrogen Europe CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis supported stronger measures for hydrogen in the EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure regulation, FuelEU Maritime, and the ReFuelEU Aviation proposals.
In a February newsletter, BusinessEurope suggested that mobility policies in the Fit for 55 package should take into account the costs for industry and impacts on competitiveness. The association supported the emission intensity standards but advocated for alternative production pathways for fuels in the FuelEU Maritime legislation, and suggested that there could be international retaliation.
BusinessEurope was supportive of slightly higher blending obligations in the short and medium term in the ReFuelEU Aviation legislation, but supported flexibilities for companies. The association advocated for increased ambition of the roll-out of charging and refuelling infrastructure in the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation.
easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air signed a joint letter advocating for the EU’s aviation climate policies to apply to all flights departing from European airports, not just intra-EU flights, and opposing new EU mechanisms to address carbon leakage. This includes expanding the scope of the EU ETS for aviation to include all international flights, and supporting the inclusion of all departing international flights in the EU’s sustainable aviation fuels mandate.
Multiple airlines, including Air France-KLM, easyJet, Ryanair alongside Deutsche Post DHL signed a joint consensus statement alongside multiple NGOs, to support the EU's proposed SAF mandate, and advocate for more ambition in the "scale and timing" of its sub-targets for e-kerosene.
In feedback to the EU Commission in November 2021, Confindustria appeared not to support an ambitious sustainable aviation fuel mandate within the RefuelEU Aviation proposal, supporting numerous exemptions.
In feedback to the EU Commission in November 2021, the Federation of German Industry adopted a mixed position on the ReFuelEU proposal, supporting a higher SAF mandate target by 2030 but advocating to limit scope of blending mandate in ReFuelEU proposal to intra-EU flights.
In a December 2021 report, the European Round Table for Industry appeared to support the ReFuelEU proposal, supporting its approach to sustainable aviation fuel uptake.
Lufthansa have signed a joint letter coordinated by Transport & Enviornment urging the EU to adopt e-kerosene mandates of 0.5%-1% for 2027 and 2.5% for 2030. This suggests an evolving, more positive position for Lufthansa, who in 2021 previously emphasized competitiveness concerns in private emails with EU policymakers around a sustainable aviation fuels mandate.
The table below lists the entities found to be most engaged with the policy. The entities are ranked by performance band. InfluenceMap tracks over 500 companies and 250 industry associations globally. Each entity name links to its full InfluenceMap profile, where the evidence of its engagement can be found.
| Influencemap Performance Band | Organization | Policy Position | Policy Engagement Intensity |
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