African Airlines Express Doubts Over Rapid Growth of Sustainable Aviation Fuel
African airlines are questioning whether sustainable aviation fuel can scale quickly across the continent due to cost, supply, and infrastructure challenges.
Jishan Khan 
African airlines are voicing concerns over the near-term prospects of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption across the continent, citing economic and infrastructure barriers.
While SAF is widely promoted as a key solution for reducing aviation emissions, airline executives in Africa question whether production capacity and pricing can support large-scale use anytime soon. High costs, limited local supply, and underdeveloped refining infrastructure remain major obstacles.
Many African carriers operate on thin margins, making it difficult to absorb the premium associated with sustainable fuels. In addition, the lack of regional SAF production means airlines would likely rely on imports, further increasing expenses.
Industry leaders stress that meaningful SAF adoption in Africa will require coordinated government support, investment incentives, and long-term policy clarity. Without these measures, progress is expected to remain slow compared to other regions.
The discussion highlights the uneven pace of aviation’s green transition and underscores the need for region-specific strategies rather than one-size-fits-all sustainability targets.
