IATA, Airbus and Accenture have released a SAF Environmental Attribute Certificate (EAc) market study that estimates corporate purchases could support between 1.0 million and 1.9 million tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030, up from an estimated 323,000 tonnes in 2024. The study was released in Brussels on 14 October 2026.
Global SAF production in 2026 is expected to be 2.4 million tonnes, or 0.8% of total jet fuel use, and SAF remains two to three times more expensive than conventional jet fuel. The study sets out corporate purchases of SAF EAc as a way for companies to meet scope 3 emissions objectives for business travel and air cargo shipments, which would share the cost of SAF by bringing more participants in the value chain into the market. That would require a robust and effective book-and-claim system under which corporates can claim the emissions reduction benefits regardless of where the fuel is delivered and ultimately consumed.
SAF EAc generally cost between US$150 and US$500 for each tonne of CO2e abated, while companies report being willing to pay closer to US$300. Airlines account for approximately 53% of corporate SAF certificate purchases, making them the largest source of certificates for companies addressing emissions from business travel and air freight. Jesko Neuenburg, Global Aviation & Travel Sustainability Lead at Accenture, said only around 15% of surveyed corporates are purchasing today, with the majority waiting for the price to come down, the carbon accounting to settle and the buying process to get simpler. He said airlines that establish SAF cost-recovery capabilities now will be best positioned when growth in the SAF EAc market accelerates, and that the opportunity today lies in the sectors where demand is already emerging.
The study identifies three priorities for greater corporate participation: clear and consistent accounting rules that give confidence that purchased emissions reductions will be recognised; transparent and interoperable tracking systems that prevent double counting and ensure environmental integrity; and simpler purchasing mechanisms, including greater price transparency, lower minimum purchase volumes and shorter contract durations.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said corporate buyers can help build the SAF market, contribute to the cost of air transport’s energy transition and benefit from recognised scope 3 emissions reductions, provided companies can participate knowing that their contributions will count and that the process is simple and credible. She said corporate participation alone will not deliver the scale of SAF aviation requires, and that continued government support, effective incentives and a significant expansion of production capacity remain essential.
Julien Manhes, Vice President, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Carbon Dioxide Removal Development at Airbus, said book-and-claim gives corporate buyers the accounting certainty they need to co-fund the SAF premium. He said this can turn potential interest into firm commitments and send fuel producers the near-term demand signal they need to accelerate production and lower costs across the industry.
