IATA brings together airlines and SAF suppliers on new procurement platform

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Matchmaker platform to facilitate SAF procurement between airlines and SAF producers by matching requests for SAF supply with offers. When there is a match, airline and supplier can connect and take their negotiation offline to agree on specific terms including price and payment terms, says IATA. The SAF Matchmaker supports spot purchases and offtake agreements and is initially available to airlines and SAF suppliers only, although the industry trade body says other SAF buyers, such as non-aviation corporations, will also be able to participate in due course.

“To reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, we need an accessible, transparent, liquid and efficient SAF market. The SAF Matchmaker is another example of the work that IATA is putting in place to create a fully functioning market for SAF,” commented Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s SVP Sustainability and Chief Economist.

IATA says the SAF Matchmaker platform will address what it describes as three critical issues: efficiency, connectivity and visibility.

A central platform will simplify SAF procurement by making it easier and faster for parties to connect without additional fees and therefore facilitate further development of the voluntary market for SAF purchasing. It will carry detailed information regarding available SAF, such as volumes, feedstock used, the location and technology of production, and the emissions reductions, as well as compliance with the ICAO CORSIA carbon scheme or the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive.

SAF producers and suppliers are able to post available or planned SAF volumes, while airlines are able to register their interest in purchasing shown or desired SAF volumes, with subsequent trades taking place outside the platform.

“The SAF Matchmaker platform will accelerate the uptake of SAF by reducing the costs and complexity that airlines face when searching for SAF suppliers,” assured Owens Thomsen.

The platform is hosted on IATA’s Aviation Energy Hub, a centralised digital space designed to provide the aviation industry with access to practical tools that support aviation energy management.

Image: IATA

Christopher Surgenor

Editor

• Linkedin