A new SAF Environmental Attribute Certificate (EAc) Market study by IATA, Airbus and Accenture estimates that corporate purchases could support between 1.0 million and 1.9 million tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030, up from an estimated 323,000 tonnes in 2024. That is roughly three to six times the 2024 level. The study frames this as a strong demand signal for more SAF production, provided the factors limiting corporate participation are addressed: unclear accounting rules, high prices and purchasing complexity.
The Market Backdrop
Global SAF production in 2026 is expected to be 2.4 million tonnes, or 0.8% of total jet fuel use, and SAF remains two to three times more expensive than conventional jet fuel. The study argues that letting corporates meet scope 3 emissions objectives, for business travel and air cargo shipments, through SAF EAc purchases would share the cost of SAF with more participants in the value chain. That requires a robust and effective book-and-claim system under which a company can claim the emissions reduction benefit regardless of where the fuel is delivered and ultimately consumed.
Prices and Who Buys
Today SAF EAcs generally cost between US$150 and US$500 per tonne of CO2e abated, while companies report being willing to pay closer to US$300. Airlines account for about 53% of corporate SAF certificate purchases, making them the largest source of certificates for companies seeking to address emissions from business travel and air freight. Only around 15% of surveyed corporates are purchasing today; most are waiting for the price to fall, the carbon accounting to settle and the buying process to become simpler.
Three Priorities to Unlock More Demand
The study identifies three priorities for greater corporate participation. The first is clear and consistent accounting rules that give companies confidence their purchased emissions reductions will be recognised. The second is transparent and interoperable tracking systems that prevent double counting and protect environmental integrity. The third is simpler purchasing mechanisms, including greater price transparency, lower minimum purchase volumes and shorter contract durations.
What the Authors Say
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said airlines cannot shoulder the cost of scaling SAF alone and that the potential is substantial but depends on companies being able to participate with confidence. She also stressed that corporate participation alone will not deliver the scale needed: continued government support, effective incentives and a significant expansion of production capacity remain essential. Airbus's Julien Manhes said book-and-claim can turn potential interest into firm commitments by giving buyers accounting certainty, and Accenture's Jesko Neuenburg said airlines that build SAF cost-recovery capabilities now will be best placed when the EAc market accelerates.
Source: IATA, 14 October 2026.
