4AIR and Titan extend support to business aviation operators on SAF availability and compliance

Global business aviation sustainability specialist 4AIR says it has now verified more than 100 locations around the world carrying sustainable aviation fuel available for business aviation aircraft. They are identified on an interactive map that 4AIR first launched in 2021. Meanwhile, Geneva-based Titan Aviation Fuels International is extending its support to business aviation operators seeking to comply with the complex ReFuelEU SAF blending mandate. Introduced in January, the mandate applies to business aviation as well as airlines that fly more than 500 commercial passenger flights annually, requiring them to uplift a 2% SAF blend at designated airports in continental Europe. ReFuelEU compliance and SAF availability were highlight issues at the recent “reimagined” EBACE 2025 show in Geneva, which has undergone changes since it was taken over by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).

At the event six years ago, to demonstrate the sector’s commitment to using sustainable aviation fuel, a number of business aircraft manufacturers flew their aircraft to the show powered by SAF. Since then, through book-and-claim mechanisms, a growing number of private operators have purchased SAF, even if unable to fuel it directly into their planes through a lack of availability at the smaller airports they use and price concerns.

However, on a global level, 4AIR has now verified over 100 worldwide locations that have SAF available for business aviation aircraft, up from fewer than 20 when the company launched its map in 2021.

“The rapid expansion to 114 locations at the end of Q1 demonstrates the business aviation industry’s dedication to reducing emissions and fostering a more sustainable future,” commented Nancy Bsales, COO of 4AIR, on the latest update of its Where to Find SAF map.

The company identified around 50 locations that added SAF in 2024. The 114 locations provide SAF availability to business aviation at 92 airports, with 47 in the US, 43 in Europe and one each in Asia and the Middle East.

“This expansion of SAF availability is an important milestone for the industry and ensures decarbonisation solutions are more accessible to a greater number aircraft operators,” said Kennedy Ricci, President of 4AIR, which offers business aviation operators a range of sustainability solutions.

With this increasing availability from a diversifying range of feedstocks and in different blends, proper documentation of its use is very important, says 4AIR. The company’s blockchain-based Assure SAF Registry is aimed at helping customers track and verify their SAF usage to support both voluntary and regulatory claims.

The new EU mandate is aimed at making SAF more widely available for operators using European airports, although complying with the mandate provides other challenges.

In a panel session at EBACE 2025, Pascal Lhoest, Regulatory Affairs Executive at NetJets, told delegates: “We’re facing a complex geopolitical and regulatory operating requirement, and client demands are changing. With SAF, for example, our customers want to see change, with the option to purchase it. We need to shift our mindset to ensure we can match new requirements.”

Titan Aviation Fuels International is helping its business aircraft customers navigate the ReFuelEU mandate regulations as well as providing access to SAF blends.

The company is monitoring which airports in continental Europe have been designated to supply the initial 2% SAF required by the mandate, advising operators about when they need to be compliant and providing invoices that clearly break out the cost of the 2% SAF uplift.

“We understand the mandate is aiming to help the environment, which is important, but it is not a one-size-fits-all regulation,” said Titan CEO Daniel Coetzer. “It has changed the fuelling landscape as it seems we are now serving three groups in Europe. Our customers include operators obliged to comply with the mandate, operators that don’t need to uplift the 2% SAF but who don’t have a choice in doing so at many airports, and operators that would like to uplift a higher blend of SAF but cannot find it as the supply isn’t there.”

Titan is working with operators to identify airports that can provide SAF as needed, as well as regular Jet-A fuel for out-of-scope operators (those flying less than 500 flights annually) not included in the designated European Union ReFuelEU list.

“It puts out-of-scope operators at a financial disadvantage to have to pay for SAF uplift when they don’t need to,” said Coetzer. “We are noting changes in European flight paths as these operators fly to a different airport to avoid incurring extra fees.

“Of course, we want to make sure our customers are complying with the mandate where they must, but equally, we want to be sure our customers have alternative options when they don’t need to comply, particularly as there is no version of a claim-back service as yet.”

The EBAA is also offering help to operators deal with their ReFuelEU obligations and has released a guide on anti-tankering compliance as a practical resource tailored to business aviation, particularly those with limited internal compliance capabilities. The supply of SAF under the regulation is the responsibility of airports and fuel suppliers whereas the limitation of tankering practices falls on the shoulders of operators. The regulation mandates that aircraft operators departing from Union airports refuel only with the aviation fuel necessary for the next flight. The obligation is aimed at avoiding excessive emissions related to extra fuel weight, minimises cost avoidance practices that would undermine the level playing field in the EU air transport market and promotes the uptake of SAF at Union airports.

Aircraft operators are also required to comply with reporting and data collection obligations, which have to be reported to competent authorities and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Meanwhile, Signature Aviation, which claims to operate the world’s largest network of private aviation terminals, is to expand its offering of blended SAF at six new locations across Europe, five at airports in the UK, with the other at Le Bourget Airport in Paris. This follows an announcement last October of a similar expansion at six of the largest private aviation markets in the US East Coast and Gulf Coast. These agreements will add access to over 50 million gallons of blended SAF to the Signature network throughout 2025.

“Since the initial introduction of our strategic partnerships to bring permanent supplies of SAF to market, we’ve pushed to build a comprehensive SAF supply chain in private aviation,” said Beatrice Batty, Senior Director of Environment & Sustainability at Signature Aviation. “We’re continuing to take the strategic steps necessary to accelerate us in the future, helping our guests, partners and the aviation industry on the journey towards net-zero carbon emissions.”

Jet Aviation, a Swiss-based provider of business aviation services at around 50 locations worldwide, says it currently has 12 sites offering on-site SAF, with the availability of book-and-claim anywhere in the world. “We continue to look for opportunities to grow this offering where it makes most environmental sense,” said the company’s President, Jeremie Caillet.

In a panel session held during EBACE, Thorsten Luft, Executive Advisor at Vaeridion, which is developing a nine-seater electric aircraft, said: “Efficiency, purpose and climate responsibility are no longer optional. The companies that can deliver all three will shape the future of aviation.”

Photo: Titan Aviation Fuels

Christopher Surgenor

Editor

• Linkedin