Manchester Airports Group welcomes Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has responded to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) announcement new mandate that Sustainable Aviation Fuel must make up 10% of fuel used by the sector by 2030.

The group, which operates Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands airports, welcomed the move by the DfT to support the aviation sector in meeting its 2050 target for net zero. The mandate is the first of its kind globally and will come into force from January 2050.

MAG also supported the start of a consultation on a revenue certainty scheme for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), commenting it would ensure the cost of air travel remains competitive and support the growth of a UK SAF production industry.

Neil Robinson, MAG’s Chief Sustainability Officer, said:

“MAG welcomes these important steps toward decarbonising our sector, through both the Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate and a preferred option for a revenue certainty mechanism for SAF production in the UK.

“SAF is central to our industry’s comprehensive plan to achieve net zero by 2050, and the UK has the potential to create a world-leading SAF production industry that will keep the cost of flying competitive for millions of people every year.

“The right revenue certainty mechanism will show that the UK is serious about creating a thriving SAF sector and make the difference in attracting investors and fuel producers to set up in this country, which will create tens of thousands of high-value jobs.

“We are committed to working constructively with Government and industry partners and will respond to the consultation in due course.”

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate follows recent research commissioned by MAG that found using household waste to make SAF would be five times better for the environment than burning it to generate electricity.

Government estimates also anticipate the SAF industry could add over £1.8 billion to the economy and create over 10,000 jobs across the country.