UK's biggest airports pledge support for Back British SAF campaign
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Bosses at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted – the UK’s four busiest airports – were the first signatories to sign the ‘Back British SAF’ pledge in support of new legislation that will secure vital investment for the domestic industry.
They are now urging businesses working across the aviation sector, unions and politicians across all parties in Westminster, Cardiff and Holyrood, to join them.
The new campaign urges the Government to bring forward the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism) Bill quickly to ensure Britain can meet its target to have five SAF plants under construction by next year.
The Back British SAF campaign has been launched by RISE: a coalition of the UK’s leading airlines, airports and fuel producers to keep plans for a domestic SAF industry on track.
Thomas Woldbye, Chief Executive Officer of Heathrow, said: “Heathrow is committed to 11% SAF use at the airport by 2030 and producing SAF in the UK is vital to making this ambition a reality. We have proven price mechanisms work with our own SAF incentive scheme at Heathrow and we urge the Government to bring forward the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill quickly, before it is too late for the UK to benefit from the jobs, growth and energy security a homegrown SAF industry would bring. There’s a huge opportunity for Britain here – let’s not lose it.”
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are working across the aviation industry to increase both demand and supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Our fuelling infrastructure at London Gatwick is SAF-ready, although airlines are hampered by limited availability. We encourage government to work with industry leaders to incentivise increased domestic production of SAF.”
Ken O’Toole, Chief Executive Officer of the Manchester Airports Group, which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports said: “The UK has the opportunity to create a world leading SAF industry, which will not only accelerate the UK aviation industry’s path to net zero by 2050 but will also stimulate economic growth and create thousands of new jobs across the country.
"Bringing forward the SAF revenue support mechanism into law at the earliest opportunity would give investors the confidence they need to create a thriving, home grown SAF industry here in the UK that will create thousands of jobs and secure an affordable future of flying for passengers.
The UK punches above its weight in aviation, with the third biggest aviation sector in the world directly employing more than 536,000 people, SAF is critical to ensure the industry reaches net zero. SAF can be made from waste material and other feedstocks. Research shows that SAF can cut carbon emissions by up to 70% and remains the only credible solution for medium and long-haul flights.
A Rise spokesperson said: “The production of SAF is one of the fastest growing industries on the planet and demand will soon outstrip supply. The United States, the European Union and countries across the Middle East and Asia Pacific are all ahead of the field in bringing forward measures to attract SAF investors to their shores. We need to act now or risk losing out altogether.”
A British SAF industry could boost the economy by £1.8 billion by 2030 and create 60,000 new jobs by 2050.
The Government’s mandate for SAF use will come into effect on 1st January 2025 but there is currently no timetable for the Bill’s introduction.
