Heathrow steps up SAF incentive scheme to the airlines
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Heathrow is increasing its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) incentive scheme in 2026, setting a new target going 2% above the UK mandate – aiming for 5.6% SAF uplift in 2026.
Over ÂŁ80 million is available to airlines to help bridge the cost gap between traditional kerosene and SAF, enabling a switch to cleaner fuels and significant carbon savings from flights.
The UK hub claims that the investment is designed to unlock higher levels of SAF use across the airport, building on Heathrow’s position as a global leader in SAF.
Heathrow Airport, British Airways Airbus A380 engine, Feb 2015.
It notes that it is stepping up its industry-leading carbon-cutting programme for a fifth consecutive year with an ambitious target to go 2% beyond the UK’s 3.6% SAF mandate in 2026.
Combined, this would see up to 5.6% of all aviation fuel used at Heathrow to be SAF, equating to around 350,000 tonnes, backed by over ÂŁ80 million of support for airlines in 2026.
SAF, a fuel alternative to traditional fossil-based kerosene, can be made from a variety of sources and can cut lifecycle carbon emissions by 70% on average.
Heathrow’s incentive scheme encourages airlines to switch to SAF by approximately halving the price gap between kerosene and its cleaner alternative, making SAF more commercially viable for airlines.
In 2026, the SAF uplifted at Heathrow has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by around 600,000 tonnes, the equivalent of more than 950,000 economy class passengers round trips from Heathrow to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport.
Heathrow is aiming to progressively increase the uplift of SAF to make up 11% of fuel uplifted at Heathrow by 2030, going beyond the Government mandate of 10% across the UK by 2030.
The airport’s director of sustainability, Matt Gorman, said: “Sustainable Aviation Fuel is not a hypothetical concept for the future, it’s already producing real impact in 2026.
“Heathrow is leading the way globally, with 17% of the world’s SAF supply in 2024 used at the airport. SAF is a key lever on aviation’s journey to net zero by 2050, and a key element of Heathrow’s Net Zero Plan. Our incentive delivers real progress today, as well as a future promise for tomorrow.”
