Aviation connects Australia’s cities, regions and remote communities, and provides a primary link to international markets. Because aircraft need high-energy liquid fuels for range, weight and refueling practicality, low carbon liquid fuels (LCLFs) are expected to play an important role in aviation alongside aircraft efficiency, operational improvements and emerging electric or hydrogen (H₂) aircraft for shorter routes.
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811,000+flights a year
Australia records 602,000 domestic flights and 209,000 international flights a year.
9 billionlitres of jet fuel a year
Australia uses over 9 billion litres of jet fuel per year, or 25 million litres a day.
12.4 Mtof carbon dioxide equivalent
Domestic aviation produced 12.4 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2024-25, equal to 10% of domestic transport full fuel-cycle emissions.
2.5%of global carbon dioxide emissions
Globally, aviation accounts for around 950 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions a year, or about 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
How aviation is reducing emissions
Aviation decarbonisation involves a combination of measures rather than a single solution.
More efficient aircraft and engines
Newer aircraft and engine designs can reduce fuel use per flight and lower emissions over time.
Increased use of certified sustainable aviation fuel
Sustainable aviation fuel can be blended with conventional aviation turbine fuel and supplied through existing airport fuel systems once it meets the relevant fuel specification.
Improved flight planning and air traffic management
Operational changes such as route optimisation, flexible flight paths and ground efficiency help to reduce fuel burn.
Emerging aircraft technologies for shorter routes
Battery-electric and hydrogen (H₂) aircraft are being developed for some shorter-distance applications, but they are not yet a near-term replacement for mainstream jet operations.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
Most commercial aircraft use aviation turbine fuel, commonly supplied as Jet A-1. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the main low carbon liquid fuel alternative. Different feedstocks and technology routes can produce aviation-range hydrocarbons.
Made from renewable and non-conventional carbon sources
Blended with conventional jet fuel to become SAF
Used in existing aircraft and infrastructure
Life-cycle emissions benefit
The emissions benefit of SAF is assessed across the full fuel life cycle, including feedstock production or collection, fuel conversion, transport and use.
Depending on the feedstock, pathway and certification method, SAF can reduce life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions by up to around 80% compared with conventional jet fuel.
Sustainable aviation fuel today
SAF is being produced and used commercially around the world, but supply remains small relative to total jet fuel demand. Activity is currently accelerating in Australia and overseas due to government incentives, growing project pipelines, mandates and demand signals.
185 airports globally
Distribute sustainable aviation fuel regularly or in batches, including airports across the United States, Sweden, United Kingdom, Spain and China.
92 policies adopted or under development
Across the world, including economic incentives, roadmaps, mandates, targets and standards.
11 approved conversion processes
11 conversion processes for producing sustainable aviation fuel have been approved by ASTM International, with additional pathways in the approval pipeline.
Australia
CSIRO and Boeing · 2024
CSIRO · 2023
Viva Energy Australia · 2025
International
IATA · 2024
ICAO · 2026
IEA · 2025
Policy, regulation and technical guidance
The bodies below shape aviation fuel policy, regulation, standards and technical guidance. They are grouped by what kind of role they play.
Fuel quality and technical standards
Sets technical specifications for what fuel is fit for use in what equipment and supports operational fuel handling and refuelling.
Publishes the core technical fuel specifications used for conventional aviation turbine fuel and synthetic blending components.
Policy and incentives
Australian Government bodies, programs and financing institutions that drive low carbon liquid fuel production, deployment and aviation decarbonisation policy.
Provides funding and support for low carbon liquid fuel studies, demonstrations and infrastructure work, including aviation-related projects.
Australian Government-owned green bank that finances clean energy projects, including low carbon liquid fuel production and aviation infrastructure investments.
Cross-sector advisory body for Australian aviation decarbonisation, including SAF policy, production and logistics.
Certification criteria
Criteria that govern how fuel’s life-cycle emissions and/or provenance are assessed, certified and claimed.
Administers Australia’s Guarantee of Origin scheme, which provides a transparent, publicly accessible record of the emissions associated with the production of key commodities. The scheme is being expanded to cover low carbon liquid fuels. DCCEEW is responsible for scheme policy and emissions accounting methodologies.
Sets the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the international framework that defines eligible fuels, sustainability criteria and life-cycle assessment methodology for aviation.
Independent global certification scheme covering sustainable biomass, bio-based materials, renewable fuels and circular economy products. ISCC is one of the certification schemes recognised under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), and is widely used across European Union renewable fuel pathways.
Mandates and targets
Regulations and government targets that require or aim for rising shares of low carbon liquid fuel use in aviation markets. Australia has not yet introduced a SAF mandate; the bodies below are the international frameworks shaping global demand.
In 2023, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Third Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) adopted the Global Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels and other Aviation Cleaner Energies. The Framework includes a collective aspirational vision to reduce international aviation carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by 5% by 2030 through cleaner energy use, supporting ICAO’s long-term goal of net-zero international aviation emissions by 2050.
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