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DUBAI/WAM
Angel Luis Arias, Spain’s Permanent Representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), expressed confidence that the high prices of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will gradually decline over time. He attributed the current high prices to SAF’s novelty in the market and the limited number of SAF producers.
“In the coming years, we anticipate a significant drop in SAF prices, paving the way for robust growth in this emerging sector,” Arias stated to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the closing session of the third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) in Dubai. He highlighted the importance of CAAF/3 in establishing a new global framework for rolling out SAFs and decarbonising the aviation sector by 2050. He said that, despite not being legally binding, the agreement reached constitutes a commitment by ICAO members on matters such as policy and planning, regulatory framework, implementation support and financing to expedite achieving desired targets.
He cited four key pillars that form the foundation of plans to decarbonise the aviation sector, including transitioning to SAFs, adopting new technologies, particularly in engine design, boosting efficiency across all types of flights; and implementing market-based measures.
“Spain is fully committed to these four elements as a part of our strategic plans,” Arias explained, adding that airports, navigation service providers, and regulatory and supervisory agencies are among the country’s key priorities. Asked about Spain’s SAF production operations, he said that the country is currently investing in research and development activities, and plans to focus these investments, with the current expectation being to see Spain reach the 6-percent SAF target set by the European Union.