IATA: Aviation Has Enough Biomass, But SAF Technology Is Advancing Too Slowly

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has raised alarms over the future of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A global report prepared with Worley Consulting concludes that the challenge to decarbonize the industry does not lie in the lack of raw materials, but in the slow deployment of the technology needed to convert them into viable large-scale fuel.

According to the study, the aviation sector will require 500 million tons of SAF annually by 2050. Of that, 300 million tons could come from biomass, with the remaining ~200 million tons supplied through alternative pathways such as Power-to-Liquid (PtL) or e-SAF. The problem: the technologies needed to reach these volumes are not yet commercially mature, nor is there enough production infrastructure in place.

The research warns that dominant processes such as HEFA, based on used cooking oils, will never reach the necessary global scale unless production routes are diversified and accelerated. In particular, PtL technology, which relies on hydrogen, carbon capture, and renewable electricity, requires massive investment and strong policy support to be deployed effectively.

Beyond technological delays, the report identifies logistical bottlenecks in transporting and processing biomass, as well as regulatory fragmentation. Without clear frameworks and policies that incentivize innovation, the industry risks stagnation, putting its net-zero targets in jeopardy.

Another challenge is competition for feedstocks: biomass is also sought after by the energy and agriculture sectors. While not considered an insurmountable obstacle, IATA insists that aviation must be prioritized in access to these resources if global emissions reduction commitments are to be met.

The report also highlights opportunities: regions with abundant renewable resources could become strategic SAF production hubs, driving employment and sustainable development. To achieve this, airlines, governments, and energy companies must move beyond plans to concrete action: building plants, funding innovation, and accelerating adoption of emerging technologies such as e-SAF.

The study’s conclusion is blunt: “The limit is not raw material, but time.” Unless technological progress accelerates significantly this decade, the aviation industry’s decarbonization pathway will become unattainable. IATA’s warning is clear: the sector must act now—with deeds, not words.