EU airlines flag concerns over tight SAF documentation timeline

The European Regions Airline Association has raised concerns over tight timelines for sustainable aviation fuel documentation under the EU mandate, warning that delayed certification from fuel suppliers could jeopardize airlines' ability to comply and access financial support.

In a statement issued Feb. 17, ERA said the Feb. 14 deadline for suppliers to provide SAF documentation to aircraft operators had created operational and compliance challenges for regional carriers across Europe.

The documentation requirement falls under the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which obliges fuel suppliers to blend increasing volumes of SAF into jet fuel supplied at EU airports. Suppliers must provide airlines with certificates containing technical data verifying SAF volumes and sustainability attributes.

Airlines rely on these certificates to submit emissions reports to national authorities and to claim allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System. The ETS provides dedicated SAF allowances aimed at narrowing the cost gap between conventional jet fuel and SAF, which can be up to 10 times more expensive.

ERA said gaps or delays in certification risk undermining carriers' ability to meet regulatory requirements and secure ETS-related financial support.

"ERA members have acted in good faith and are fully committed to meeting their environmental obligations," said Montserrat Barriga, director general of ERA.

"But without timely, accurate and harmonized documentation from fuel suppliers, airlines face a direct barrier between compliance and the financial support that makes SAF uptake possible," Barriga said. "The ETS allowances reserved for SAF are not a bonus; they are essential to help close the price gap. This first year of implementation is a real test for the entire SAF system."

The association called on authorities to ensure the provision of complete and standardized SAF documentation, as well as greater alignment of reporting metrics and units across suppliers and EU member states.

Difficult position

ERA also urged regulators to consider a more practical and predictable documentation timeline in future reporting cycles, including the possibility of more frequent data provision to ease administrative burdens and avoid year-end bottlenecks.

While suppliers may be legally compliant if documentation is delivered by the final regulatory deadline, ERA said last-minute issuance places airlines in a difficult position. Operators must compile, verify and submit detailed data to accredited independent verifiers and national authorities -- a process that requires time and clarity.

Regional airlines, which often operate on thinner margins and serve smaller airports, are particularly exposed to administrative disruptions, the association said. Any delay in accessing ETS support could materially affect their ability to absorb the higher costs associated with SAF uptake.

The ReFuelEU mandate marks the first year of implementation in 2026, with initial blending requirements applying across EU airports. SAF supply chains, certification systems and reporting frameworks are still being tested at scale, industry participants say.

ERA said improved coordination between fuel suppliers, airlines and national authorities will be critical to ensuring smooth compliance as blending mandates ratchet up over the coming years.

The association reiterated its support for the EU's decarbonization goals but stressed that regulatory design and execution must remain workable for operators tasked with delivering compliance on the ground.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed the SAF FOB FARAG premium to jet barges down $65.25/mt, or 4.6%, at $1,349/mt in the week to Feb. 11.