Aviation industry must act now to reach net-zero goals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Taking immediate action is the key to decarbonizing the commercial aviation industry by 2050, the timeline for IATA’s net-zero goal. Whether it is producing and purchasing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), advocating for governmental regulations and incentives , or modernizing fleets and equipment, the industry must begin implementing sustainable solutions now, panelists at Cargo Facts Symposium in Nashville agreed this week. [caption id="attachment_57292534" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Panelists discuss sustainability at Cargo Facts Symposium in Nashville. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] “Don’t wait,” Josie Barbara, general manager of cargo alliances and sustainability at Delta Air Lines , said. “People want to wait until 2030 to meet that 2030 goal, or until 2050 to meet the 2050 goal. It takes investment every year, ramping up to get there.” IATA has set a goal for the aviation industry to use a minimum of 10% SAF across the board by 2030. The European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation , adopted in 2023, aims to incrementally decarbonize aviation by 2050. Beginning this year, 2% of the fuel provided at EU airports must be SAF. That share rises to 6% in 2030. Partnerships smooth the way Implementing new initiatives and changing longstanding processes can be daunting, but partnering with other industry members can remove some challenges. “My advice would be: Don't wait. Partner.” — Josie Barbara, general manager of Cargo Alliances and Sustainability Delta Air Lines Delta launched the Sustainable Skies Lab in 2023, helping the carrier to partner with companies looking to innovation for sustainability, such as using hydrogen as fuel and developing blended-wing body aircraft, Barbara said. Delta also partners with traditional manufacturers, like Airbus and Boeing, she said. Forming partnerships today will also help industry members gain access to SAF in the future, said Charlotte Herhold, vice president of strategy and business development at alternative fuels producer CleanJoule . “It's important that you find those partnerships now because, while the SAF supply will continue to improve, there are still many ways in which it will be constrained in 2030,” Herhold said. “If you build those partnerships now, you are more likely to be able to ensure that you meet those mandates and meet your own goals, as well as catalyze the entire industry to continue to push forward and be more successful.” Regulations, incentivization, advocacy The industry also must push for governmental regulations and incentives to promote sustainability, Paula Wagner, head of SAF sales for the Americas at renewable fuels producer Neste , said. Regulatory requirements and financial incentives are vital, as SAF is expensive to produce and purchase, costing about two to three times more than traditional jet fuel. “It's up to all of us to influence the cost of SAF,” Wagner said. “We can do that through regulatory support, making SAF well-known mainstream, and then advocating, whether at the company level or at the individual level, for more regulatory support. That's how we get it into the airplanes that we fly.” Follow daily coverage of Cargo Facts Symposium 2025's highlights , and utilize the mobile event app to network with fellow attendees. Cargo Facts LATAM 2026, the essential event for stakeholders in Latin America, will take place Feb. 10-12 at the Marquis Reforma in Mexico City. Learn more and register by Dec. 19 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.

Aviation industry must act now to reach net-zero goals

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