The aviation industry aims to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2050 and reach net-zero soon after, with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as a pivotal component, promising an 80% reduction in emissions. Despite its potential, SAF accounted for just 0.1% of global jet fuel usage in 2019 due to high production costs, limited raw materials, and the aviation crisis induced by COVID-19. While SAF is a feasible drop-in fuel for current aircraft without major modifications, its expense compared to regular jet fuel remains a barrier. Scaling up production and diversifying feedstocks, from waste cooking oils to agricultural residues and eventually synthetic liquid fuels from renewable sources, are critical to reducing costs and meeting demand. Airlines are hesitant due to cost disparities, needing thousands of production plants and vast renewable energy infrastructure. The pandemic slowed progress, and meeting the 2025 goal of 2% SAF use seems improbable without subsidies or policy changes. Encouragingly, airlines respond to consumer preferences for sustainability, though potential fare increases of up to 15% might occur as airlines adapt, shaping a challenging yet necessary transformation toward sustainable air travel.
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