• South Korea to require 1% SAF blending for all international departures by 2027, increasing to up to 10% by 2035.
• Airlines must source 90% of annual refuelling volumes from SAF blends starting in 2028, with penalties up to 150% of market value for non-compliance.
• Government introducing incentives including traffic-rights advantages, passenger contribution schemes, and potential direct subsidies to support uptake.

Seoul Charts Path to Cleaner Skies

South Korea will require all international flights departing its airports to use sustainable aviation fuel from 2027, becoming one of Asia’s first major air transport hubs to implement a binding SAF blending mandate. The policy forms part of the government’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Blending Mandate Roadmap, developed jointly by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).

The mandate will begin at a 1% blending requirement for departing flights and scale up to between 7% and 10% by 2035. From 2028, international airlines must ensure that at least 90% of their annual refuelling volumes at South Korean airports meet the SAF requirement.

Officials said the move represents a coordinated national effort to align the country’s aviation sector with global decarbonization goals while expanding domestic SAF production capacity. The announcement builds on last year’s SAF Expansion Strategy, which outlined a long-term plan to integrate cleaner fuels across South Korea’s aviation supply chain.

Building a Regional SAF Market

South Korea’s mandate adds momentum to Asia-Pacific’s growing shift toward cleaner aviation fuels, joining initiatives from Singapore, Japan, and Australia. The region accounts for the world’s largest collective air travel market, making policy alignment across its economies critical to scaling SAF demand and infrastructure.

Fuel suppliers, including refiners and importers, will be required to meet blending obligations from 2027, with compliance based on the proportion of SAF supplied annually for use in international flights. Specific blending ratios for 2030 and 2035 will be confirmed in 2026 and 2029, following assessments of domestic output, global market conditions, and international carbon commitments.

To coordinate implementation, the government has formed a SAF Alliance that brings together airlines, refiners, and regulatory agencies to accelerate domestic production and streamline certification standards.

Incentives and Penalties

The policy framework includes both incentives and penalties to ensure compliance and stimulate early adoption. Airlines that exceed minimum SAF blending thresholds will gain higher priority in international route allocations, receiving up to 3.5 points in air traffic rights scoring.

At the same time, non-compliance could result in penalties of up to 150% of the average SAF transaction price multiplied by the annual shortfall in fuel uptake, although enforcement will be deferred for the first year of the mandate. Operators will also be allowed to defer up to 20% of their SAF requirement for three years.

The government said it will explore direct subsidies to offset SAF costs, replacing the current system of reduced airport fees for compliant airlines. In 2025–26, those fee reductions are estimated at 600 million won ($428,000), primarily from Incheon International Airport Corporation and Korea Airport Corporation.

Passengers will also be invited to contribute to SAF use through voluntary donations during flight bookings, rewarded by airlines with lounge access, upgraded seating, or “SAF-related souvenirs.”

Defining Sustainable Fuels

Only fuels that meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) carbon-reduction standards will qualify as SAF under the new rules. This includes both bio-based fuels and lower-carbon aviation fuels that achieve at least a 10% reduction in lifecycle emissions compared to the ICAO baseline.

Quality standards for bio-aviation fuels will be finalized by mid-2026, with additional incentives expected for next-generation synthetic SAFs produced through renewable energy and captured carbon. After 2030, a weighting system may reward fuels with higher carbon reduction rates to further drive innovation in domestic refining and biofuel production.

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Domestic Progress and Industry Readiness

Nine South Korean airlines already use locally produced SAF on select short-haul routes. Korean Air, the nation’s flag carrier, recently expanded its use of a 1% SAF blend made from used cooking oil on routes to Kobe and Osaka, sourced from refiners HD Hyundai Oilbank and GS Caltex. The airline first tested the fuel on its Incheon–Haneda route in 2023.

The government’s roadmap positions South Korea as a frontrunner among Asian nations in aviation decarbonization, aiming to bridge policy, industry, and consumer engagement.

Vice Minister for Transport Kang Hee-up said the mandate marks “Korea’s first step toward achieving carbon neutrality in international aviation” and enhances its role as a global air transport leader.

A Global Shift in Aviation Policy

South Korea’s plan mirrors similar mandates in Europe and the UK, which begin requiring a 2% SAF blend in 2025 under their respective net-zero strategies. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects that global SAF production will double in 2025 but still meet less than 1% of total airline fuel demand—highlighting the scale of the supply gap.

By embedding SAF use into regulation, South Korea is betting on long-term market stability to draw investment into domestic refining, feedstock processing, and synthetic fuel innovation. For investors and airlines, the roadmap provides a clearer regulatory signal at a time when the global aviation sector faces intensifying pressure to decarbonize.

If effectively implemented, Seoul’s mandate could become a regional template—demonstrating how policy alignment, industrial collaboration, and market incentives can accelerate aviation’s path toward net-zero.

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