News Roundup December 2025

Renewable fuels producer Neste has agreed on the supply of SAF for Cathay Group’s aviation operations across Europe, the United States and Asia-Pacific, and support Cathay to scale up its use of SAF. Neste has been delivering blended SAF for use on Cathay Pacific flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Los Angeles International Airport. Neste has also supplied SAF to Singapore Changi Airport for flights operated by Air Hong Kong, an all-cargo airline owned by the Cathay Group.

Hong Kong-based renewable fuels producer EcoCeres has earned RSB ICAO CORSIA certification for its sustainable aviation fuel. The company says the certification confirms it has met strict criteria including significant lifecycle GHG reductions; protection of high-carbon and high biodiversity areas; robust social safeguards for workers and local communities; and traceability of feedstock sourcing and production processes. EcoCeres adds the certification will support its strategy to expand its presence in international SAF markets and to partner with airlines and fuel suppliers that must comply with CORSIA obligations and other emerging SAF mandates.

US renewable fuel, including renewable jet fuel, and chemicals company Gevo has announced long-time leader Dr Patrick Gruber will retire in April 2026. Effective December 9, 2025, Dr Paul Bloom has been appointed President of Gevo and will succeed Gruber as CEO on the latter’s retirement. Bloom joined Gevo in 2021, playing a role in advancing the company’s technology and executing commercial strategy.

The SASHA Coalition has released a policy briefing that outlines the environmental and economic benefits of zero carbon emission technology, the challenges to achieving commercialisation and the policies needed to overcome them. It recommends policymakers introduce a mandate for all intra-EU flights of less than 400km to be zero carbon emission by 2040; ensure that green hydrogen is available for aviation; establish regional testbeds to demonstrate zero carbon emission aviation; and extend support for research and development. Coalition members include ZeroAvia, Hybrid Air Vehicles and Ecojet.

Private aviation company JETEX has become the latest strategic investor in Azzera’s digital carbon management platform. The aviation sustainability provider says the new investment will position the technology platform to continue evolving functionality, grow its international footprint and deliver new client-facing offsetting tools to its users’ customers. The company also confirms JETEX will act as a lead partner for a new tool, Azzera SAF Productivity Operations and Delivery (SAF POD), which will be accessible via the CELESTE platform. Under the agreement, JETEX will also work with Azzera to procure and manage SAF for its international fleet beginning in early 2026. The investment concludes Azzera’s $800,000 capital raise.

According to projections by aviation market intelligence company IBA, North America is currently the only global region on track to meet ICAO’s 2030 goal of a 5% reduction in CO2 emissions from international aviation through the use of SAF and other clean energies. All other regions, including Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East are forecast to fall short of the goal unless significant additional SAF capacity is developed, says IBA. The calculations were based by combining  ICAO’s latest SAF production capacity data with IBA’s global fuel demand forecasts. Globally, says IBA, SAF facilities that are operational or under construction currently equate to around 4.5% of global jet fuel supply in 2025.

Maryam Al Balooshi, Senior Manager of the Environmental Affairs Office at the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority has been elected Chair of ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP). She is the first from the Middle East to hold this position, which encompasses international responsibilities related to shaping the future of the aviation sector in reducing its environmental impacts. CAEP is a technical advisory body reporting to the governing ICAO Council and consists of 11 working groups and around 1,200 experts that are focused on key areas including aircraft noise, engine emissions, climate change, SAF and the development of environmental management tools.

XCF Global has completed initial site work at New Rise Reno 2 in Nevada, the company’s second SAF production facility, and with engineering, design and project planning underway, construction is planned to begin in 2026. Since inception, $350 million has been invested in New Rise Reno. New Rise Reno 2 represents the next phase of the company’s growth strategy, with an expected $300 million investment enabling XCF to double SAF production capacity to 80 million gallons annually. In November, XCF signed a MoU with global energy and commodities group BGN to jointly develop global distribution, marketing and offtake frameworks across Europe, the Middle East and other strategic markets.

France-based Beyond Aero, which is aiming to build the first electric business aircraft powered by hydrogen propulsion, has completed its feasibility study for a new aircraft manufacturing site. The facility would support production of 60 aircraft per year and create 225 jobs. The company’s BYA-1 six-passenger aircraft, capable of flying 1,500km, recently reached Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6) for its full-scale hydrogen-electric propulsion system and has completed France’s first manned, fully hydrogen-electric flight. Beyond Aero says it has secured over $50 million in funding and $1 billion in Letters of Intent.

UK leisure airline Jet2 has been awarded an A- rating by CDP in its latest climate disclosure assessment, widely regarded as the global benchmark for environmental reporting, with scores recognised by investors, regulators, governments and customers. Jet2 says the improved rating from B to A- demonstrates its leadership and best practice when it comes to decarbonising its operations, as well as setting science-based targets and developing robust plans to reduce emissions in the future. The carrier plans to reduce its carbon emissions per RPK by 35% in 2035 compared to 2019 and is introducing new, more fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo aircraft into its fleet, with 155 aircraft on order.

AfriSAF and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) have signed a MoU that establishes a framework for collaboration to accelerate the deployment and production of sustainable aviation fuel across Africa. Under the MoU, the two parties will work together to support SAF adoption, develop bankable SAF production projects, strengthen feedstock supply chains and promote policies that enhance aviation safety, security, efficiency and environmental sustainability. They will collaborate on five joint initiatives: advocacy and policy support; capacity building and training; SAF project development; resource mobilisation; and feedstock mapping and sustainability. AfriSAF, says CEO Kwame Bekoe, is a digital marketplace, traceability platform and SAF project developer focused on aggregating and upcycling agricultural residues and other sustainable feedstocks across Africa.

The Lufthansa Group is further expanding its fuel efficiency programme OPS Sustainability. Since 2022, over 90 projects have helped save approximately 54,000 tonnes of jet fuel, thereby avoiding around 170,000 tonnes of CO2. The company has set itself the target of avoiding around 50,000 additional tonnes of CO2 annually across the group by the end of 2028, among other things by using new digital tools and data-based decision models. This corresponds to an additional fuel saving of over 15,200 tonnes. The measures include, for example, the use of digital applications that will enable even more precise decisions to be made in future about the amount of fuel required for a flight, optimised taxiing and approach procedures, more demand-oriented water loading and more precise flight planning.