• Airbus is piloting a new approach to accelerate global adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
• Major aviation companies including SMBC Aviation Capital, AerCap, and Luxaviation have signed on, signaling strong industry commitment.
• The “Book and Claim” method simplifies SAF access, especially benefiting smaller operators.

Airbus announced a pilot program running through 2025 to test a “Book and Claim” model, enabling operators to “book” SAF quantities and “claim” emission reductions—even if the fuel is used elsewhere.

Airbus will purchase SAF certificates managed by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), a recognized sustainability body, and resell them to aircraft and helicopter operators. This boosts immediate demand and solves logistical challenges for smaller or remote operators.

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Julien Manhes, Airbus Head of Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Carbon Dioxide Removals, explained:

“Supporting the SAF Book and Claim mechanism is an immediate solution contributing to the emergence and scale-up of the global SAF market. For a lot of smaller operators, getting access to SAF can be challenging depending on the amount of SAF needed. Through this initiative, Airbus can simplify and derisk the process for operators and SAF suppliers, by financially securing SAF certificates upfront and sharing them when customers need them. This is also a great opportunity to demonstrate Book and Claim is reliable and that its usage should be extended in voluntary and regulatory markets.”

The first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by SMBC Aviation Capital, followed closely by AerCap, Comlux, Luxaviation, Novespace, Rive Private Investment, and SAF Aerogroup—highlighting broad industry support.

The pilot aims to evaluate the scalability, reliability, and market appetite for third-party facilitation of SAF, shaping the future of sustainable aviation fuel globally.

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