CORSIA Compliance and SAF: What Every Aviation Event Should Be Discussing But Isn’t

A total exceeding $17 billion in sustainable aviation fuel agreements was disclosed by carriers from 2021 through 2023. Yet, mention of CORSIA-eligible specifications appeared in hardly any official statements. This omission stands out – quiet but clear – for those willing to notice. Despite the announcements, little attention went toward compliance standards during public discussions.

Despite the announcements at gatherings such as the Dubai Airshow and Paris Air Show, little attention is given to certification standards. Agreements for future fuel supply are made by carriers. Manufacturers present long-term output plans. Conference rooms host consecutive discussions on environmental impact. Rarely does anyone speak about the verification system needed for legal recognition.

Beginning in 2020, global flights are meant to stay flat in carbon terms thanks to CORSIA – a plan shaped by ICAO. Rather than relying solely on offsets, carriers may apply sustainable fuels toward their targets. Yet eligibility hinges on strict climate performance standards across the entire supply chain. It is not enough for fuel to come from organic sources alone. A minimum of one-tenth fewer emissions over its full life cycle must be shown compared to regular jet fuel. Proof requires validation under a system recognised by ICAO itself. Few gatherings highlighting new initiatives bother mentioning these conditions.

What CORSIA Actually Requires

CORSIA treats SAF as a product differently than it does SAF recognised under its own eligibility rules. Even when derived from biomass and meeting sustainability criteria, a fuel may fail to qualify as a CORSIA Eligible Fuel. This occurs should upstream emissions exceed the permitted level across the full life cycle.

CORSIA acknowledges certain certification systems – ISCC CORSIA and RSB CORSIA, along with several additional ones. Paperwork matters as much as the fuel itself for airlines. Verified documentation must align with an authorised feedstock route. Approval comes only through recognised oversight entities

At most aviation events, this level of specificity is absent. Panel discussions frame SAF in volume terms. Commitments reference percentage blends by 2030. Rarely does anyone ask which certification scheme covers a given fuel and whether it qualifies under CORSIA Phase 2.

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Why Aviation Events Keep Missing This

The incentives at aviation events push toward ambition over precision. Airlines want to signal ESG commitment. Fuel producers want to attract investment. Organisers want big numbers in press coverage.

CORSIA compliance is a procurement and legal problem, not a marketing one. It involves fuel traceability systems, book and claim accounting, and bilateral agreements between states. It doesn’t fit on a banner.

There’s also a timing mismatch. CORSIA’s mandatory phase starts in 2027, which still feels distant to event planners. But airlines buying SAF now and signing multi-year supply agreements need CORSIA alignment today. Contracts signed without CEF consideration may not count when it matters most.

Case Study 1: Neste at Dubai Airshow 2023

At Dubai Airshow 2023, Neste signed multiple SAF supply agreements with Middle Eastern carriers. The announcements generated strong press coverage and positioned Neste as the dominant SAF supplier in the region.

What didn’t make the headlines: Neste’s SAF produced from used cooking oil carries ISCC CORSIA certification. Several of their other feedstock pathways, including certain waste and residue streams, require separate pathway approval under CORSIA. Carriers signing broad SAF supply agreements without specifying the feedstock pathway and certification scheme may find portions of their contracted volume don’t qualify as CEF.

The event generated real commercial momentum. The compliance layer was invisible.

Case Study 2: Singapore Airshow 2024 and the Mandate Gap

Singapore Airshow 2024 brought significant SAF policy announcements. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore confirmed a 1% SAF blending mandate from 2026, rising progressively toward 2030 targets. Singapore Airlines was front and centre, highlighting SAF partnerships and sustainability credentials.

What the event covered well: volume targets, airline commitments, and government policy direction. What it covered poorly: whether the SAF planned for the mandate meets CORSIA CEF standards or whether it only satisfies Singapore’s domestic blending requirement.

These are not the same thing. A fuel can comply with Singapore’s mandate and still not qualify under CORSIA if the lifecycle verification pathway isn’t approved. For airlines running international routes from Changi, that distinction becomes a real liability from 2027 onwards.

What Aviation Events Should Actually Do

Aviation events reach the people who make SAF procurement decisions. That’s exactly where CORSIA literacy needs to improve.

Mandate compliance sessions alongside commercial ones. Every SAF panel should include a CORSIA pathway discussion, not just volume commitments.

Require exhibitors to state certification schemes. If a company announces an SAF deal, the press materials should name which sustainability scheme covers it.

Invite national aviation authorities. CORSIA is administered at state level. Government representatives can clarify which fuels count toward compliance in their jurisdiction.

Report SAF deals in CEF-eligible volume, not just total contracted volume. The industry conflates the two constantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is CORSIA and how does it relate to Sustainable Aviation Fuel? 

CORSIA, established by ICAO, sets a worldwide framework where carriers must compensate for CO₂ output on overseas flights exceeding 2019 thresholds. Instead of offsets alone, sustainable aviation fuel can lower required compensation – provided its full life cycle demonstrates proven emission reductions and meets official eligibility criteria. 

Q2: Can any SAF be used for CORSIA compliance? 

Only fuels that pass ICAO’s full-life emissions criteria qualify. Certification through recognized systems like ISCC CORSIA or RSB CORSIA is required. A claim of sustainability from a supplier does not guarantee eligibility. Meeting standards depends on verified documentation, not labels. 

Q3: Why do SAF announcements at aviation events often lack CORSIA detail? 

Aviation events reward ambition and scale. Compliance specifics, feedstock pathways, and certification schemes are procurement-level details that don’t fit a press release or keynote format.

Q4: Does CORSIA apply to all flights? 

CORSIA covers international aviation. Domestic routes fall under individual country regulations. Airlines operating intercontinental routes face the mandatory phase from 2027, though many major markets joined voluntarily from 2021.

Q5: What is the 2nd Annual World Sustainable Aviation Fuel Forum? 

A two-day hybrid conference in Amsterdam on 23–24 June 2026, bringing together 150+ professionals across the sustainable aviation fuel value chain. It combines roundtables, case studies, World Café sessions, and networking across 20+ hours of programming.