Geneva, Switzerland
By Maria Kalamatas | The Logistic News
May 26, 2025 – Section: Air
In what may prove to be a defining moment for the aviation industry’s climate agenda, several of the world’s leading airlines have come together to form a new global initiative focused on scaling the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in long-haul air cargo operations.
The announcement, made during the annual summit of the International Air Transport Association in Geneva, introduces the Global SAF Cargo Alliance — a coordinated effort between carriers from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, including Lufthansa Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, and Singapore Airlines.
This coalition aims to pool resources, align procurement strategies, and streamline SAF integration at major international hubs. It’s a practical response to one of the industry’s biggest challenges: how to make low-emission fuels available and viable at global scale.
“This isn’t a pledge — it’s a platform,” said André Kramer, Vice President of Sustainability at Lufthansa Cargo. “By acting together, we can speed up adoption, reduce costs, and move toward real emissions reductions in freight.”
The initiative outlines a clear target: achieve 30% SAF usage on all international cargo flights operated by alliance members by 2030. To reach that goal, members will coordinate investments in regional SAF production facilities and support unified refueling infrastructure at key airports.
The urgency is real. Aviation remains one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize, and international air freight — with its reliance on long-distance wide-body aircraft — is among its most emissions-intensive segments. SAF offers the most immediate path to cut emissions without changing aircraft or altering global routes.
The fuel, made from waste-based materials such as used cooking oil or organic residues, can reduce total CO₂ output by up to 80% over its lifecycle compared to conventional kerosene. But production remains limited, and prices are often three to five times higher than fossil jet fuel.
“Scaling SAF means shifting from boutique volumes to industrial availability,” said Safiyah Hamed, Director of Environmental Affairs at Qatar Airways. “And that only happens if demand becomes visible and organized — which is what this alliance is about.”
Experts welcome the alliance’s approach, especially its focus on cargo, which until now has often been excluded from major SAF adoption strategies that prioritized passenger aviation.
By centering its action plan on global freight corridors — including major hubs in Frankfurt, Doha, Changi, and Chicago — the alliance is prioritizing routes with both the heaviest volumes and the greatest emissions impact.
“Targeting long-haul cargo with SAF is smart, because that’s where the climate payoff is greatest,” noted Dr. Camille Lemoine, an independent aviation researcher in Paris. “This is where ambition becomes measurable.”
Over the next 12 months, the group will begin real-time SAF integration trials on key intercontinental routes. The alliance also plans to publish annual performance reports and push for international policy harmonization to support fuel certification and taxation reform.
If successful, this could mark the beginning of a new era for air cargo — one where sustainability is not just an aspiration but an operating principle.
✎ Maria Kalamatas
Senior Correspondent – Aviation & Sustainability
The Logistic News
