IATA Launches SAF Registry for Global Fuel Transparency

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry, managed by the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization (CADO). The initiative aims to create a standardized global market for SAF, facilitating transparent transactions and promoting adoption. The platform is now live, with over 30 early users onboard, including airlines, fuel producers, government entities, and corporate travel management companies.

Fuel remains the largest source of emissions in the aviation sector. SAF, derived from sources such as waste oils and agricultural residues, has the potential to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional jet fuel. However, widespread adoption is constrained by limited supply and high costs. IATA estimates SAF production reached 1 million tonnes in 2024—equivalent to 1.3 billion liters—doubling 2023 volumes but still accounting for just 0.3% of global jet fuel output.

The SAF Registry seeks to address supply challenges by enabling stakeholders to transparently track SAF transactions and their environmental attributes across the value chain. It allows airlines and corporate customers to claim environmental benefits under regulatory frameworks and voluntary sustainability programs, preventing double counting of emissions reductions.

“Aviation’s decarbonization is a team effort. With the launch of the SAF Registry, we have provided a critical platform that ensures all airlines can access SAF and claim their purchases against climate-related obligations,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Chief Economist.

The Registry operates as a global system for standardized SAF transaction recording. It is technology- and feedstock-neutral, encouraging diverse SAF production pathways worldwide. By decoupling SAF attributes from physical location, the platform allows airlines to access fuel benefits regardless of where the SAF is physically uplifted, improving accessibility and usability.

“While this is a significant and historic advance, it is just one step toward a mature, transparent, and liquid global SAF market. The Registry alone cannot create miracles, but without it, no miracles are possible,” Thomsen added.

Participation in the SAF Registry will be free of charge until April 2027, after which it will transition to a cost-recovery operational model. The platform is designed for interoperability with other registries, fostering competition and integration across markets.

“The Registry addresses the critical challenge of limited SAF supply — scarce and geographically concentrated — by connecting airlines with SAF producers and suppliers globally. It also enables corporate customers to access in-sector emissions reductions, leveraging their ability to co-finance decarbonization costs,” IATA stated.

IATA stressed the need for strong policy intervention to advance SAF adoption further. “Progress requires active policy support to scale up renewable energy production, including SAF. Governments must redirect subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The successes of the wind and solar energy markets provide a blueprint, and we must act without delay,” Thomsen concluded.