How IATA is a Sustainable Aviation Matchmaker

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has established the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Matchmaker platform to help connect sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) between airlines and producers of the fuel.

It takes requests from aircraft and those with SAF who can offer a supply.

Once a match has been made, the airline and the supplier can then open discussions to reach specific terms including items such as price terms for payment, according to IATA.

This new platform offers support for items such as spot purchases and offtake agreements – it is initially available to airlines and SAF suppliers only.

However, the industry trade body has said that other participants, for example, non-aviation corporations, can take part in due course.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's SVP Sustainability and Chief Economist, says: "To reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, we need an accessible, transparent, liquid and efficient SAF market. The SAF Matchmaker is another example of the work that IATA is putting in place to create a fully functioning market for SAF."

Addressing critical market challenges

IATA says the SAF Matchmaker platform will address what it describes as three critical issues:

• Efficiency: The availability of a central platform will simplify SAF procurement by making it easier and faster for all parties to connect without additional fees. It will therefore facilitate further development of the voluntary market for SAF purchasing.
• Connectivity: SAF producers and suppliers can post available or planned SAF volumes while airlines are able to register their interest in purchasing shown or desired SAF volumes. Subsequent trades will take place outside the platform.
• Visibility: The platform carries comprehensive information regarding the available SAF, such as volumes, feedstock used, the location and technology of production, the emissions reductions, as well as compliance with the Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) or the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive (EU RED).

This central platform will help to simplify the operation of SAF procurement by making it easier and quicker for parties to open discussions without any additional fees – which will help to further develop the voluntary market for SAF purchasing.

Helping to carry detailed information regarding available SAF – such as volumes, feedstock used, the location and the technology of production – as well as the emissions reductions plus the compliance with the ICAO CORSIA carbon scheme or the EU's Renewable Energy Directive.

Producers of SAF and suppliers will be given the opportunity to post available and planned SAF volumes, while airlines are able to register their interest in either purchasing shown or desired SAF volumes, with subsequent trades taking place outside the platform.

"The SAF Matchmaker platform will accelerate the uptake of SAF by reducing the costs and complexity that airlines face when searching for SAF suppliers," adds Marie.

The platform is hosted on IATA's Aviation Energy Hub, a centralised digital space designed to provide the aviation industry with access to practical tools that support aviation energy management.

Major partnership demonstrates SAF's growing importance

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is increasingly seen as crucial in reducing emissions within the aviation sector, potentially contributing to 65% of the required reductions to achieve net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050, according to the International Air Transport Association.

As part of this effort, FedEx, the world's largest express cargo airline, and Neste, a global leader in SAF production, have partnered to achieve a major milestone in sustainable transportation.

The pair have agreed on a substantial supply chain development at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where FedEx will receive 8,800 tonnes of blended SAF—making it the largest SAF purchase by a US cargo line at LAX to date.

Richard Smith, Chief Operating Officer, International and CEO, Airline at FedEx, outlined the company's deep commitment: "As the world's preeminent express transportation company, our initial US deployment of this fuel advances our sustainability goals and bolsters the aviation industry's efforts to source and use more SAF."