This final section gives concrete, actionable recommendations for the four core stakeholder groups: airlines, fuel producers/refiners, airports/airports authorities, and policymakers & financiers.

For Airlines — procurement, operations, and communications

  1. Layer procurement strategies: combine short-term spot buys, medium-term offtake contracts, and strategic equity stakes in projects. Spot purchases allow marketing claims and immediate emissions reductions; offtakes underpin new supply projects; strategic investments secure long-term supply and potential cost advantages.

  2. Hedge price and supply risk: use blended risk strategies and partner with cargo customers and corporate buyers to aggregate demand and improve purchasing power.

  3. Operational efficiency: pair SAF use with Aviation Alternative Fuel-efficiency measures (route optimisation, weight reduction) to maximise carbon abatement per dollar spent.

  4. Transparent accounting: adopt consistent lifecycle accounting methods and avoid overreliance on low-quality offsets; align reporting with recognized standards (IATA guidance, national rules) to avoid reputational risk.

For Fuel Producers & Refineries

  1. Prioritize feedstock diversity: combine waste oils, municipal solid waste inputs, and plan for e-SAF integration to avoid HEFA feedstock ceilings.

  2. Scale responsibly: de-risk projects with anchor offtakes, blended finance, and staged capacity increases. Pursue co-processing and refinery integration to lower capex and accelerate ramp-up.

  3. Cost reduction roadmap: invest in R&D for next-generation pathways (ATJ, FT, e-SAF) and in process efficiency to reduce operating costs and shrink the price premium.

For Airports & Infrastructure Operators

  1. Fuel logistics & SAF bunkering: invest in SAF handling, storage and blending infrastructure to make SAF available at scale, and coordinate with fuel suppliers to ensure distribution to airlines.

  2. Port and freight coordination: design airport supply corridors that support bulk SAF imports or domestic pipeline deliveries, reducing logistic premiums.

For Policymakers & Financiers

  1. Create demand certainty: a mix of mandates (like ReFuelEU), long-term procurement commitments, and predictable incentives (tax credits, credits per GHG reduction) are necessary to mobilize capital. The EU mandate model shows how obligations can create durable demand; U.S. incentives reduce the cost gap for producers. 

  2. Support blended finance: provide low-cost debt, loan guarantees, or preferred equity to derisk early projects and bring down weighted average cost of capital.

  3. Protect sustainability: ensure robust lifecycle accounting and sustainability criteria that avoid ILUC and prioritize waste feedstocks and e-SAF where possible.

  4. Facilitate cross-sectoral coordination: support renewable electricity scale-up (for e-SAF) and sustainable waste management systems that feed SAF plants.