Heathrow Airport has expanded its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) incentive scheme for 2026, setting a target for airlines to use SAF at a level 2 percentage points above the UK Government’s mandate.
The government requirement for 2026 stands at 3.6% SAF use. Under the revised incentive programme, Heathrow aims to support airlines in reaching a total SAF uplift of 5.6% across fuel supplied at the airport next year. According to Heathrow, this would represent around 350,000 tonnes of SAF if the mandate and incentive targets are fully met.
More than 80 million GBP has been allocated for the 2026 scheme. The funding is intended to narrow the price difference between conventional aviation kerosene and SAF, which is typically more expensive to produce. The incentive is designed to make SAF purchasing more commercially viable for carriers operating from Heathrow.
SAF is produced from non-fossil sources including waste oils, residues and certain synthetic processes. On a lifecycle basis, UK government guidance indicates that SAF can deliver average greenhouse gas emissions savings of more than 70% compared with standard jet fuel, depending on feedstock and production method.
Heathrow estimates that if the 5.6% SAF level is achieved, carbon dioxide emissions associated with flights using fuel uplifted at the airport could be reduced by about 600,000 tonnes in 2026. Using international aviation carbon calculation models, the airport said this reduction is comparable to the emissions from roughly 950,000 economy return passenger journeys between London Heathrow and New York JFK.
Matt Gorman, Heathrow’s Director of Sustainability, said:Sustainable Aviation Fuel is not a hypothetical concept for the future, it’s already producing real impact in 2026. Heathrow is leading the way globally, with 17% of the world’s SAF supply in 2024 used at the airport. SAF is a key lever on aviation’s journey to net zero by 2050, and a key element of Heathrow's Net Zero Plan. Our incentive delivers real progress today, as well as a future promise for tomorrow.
Heathrow’s SAF incentive programme has now been renewed annually for five years. It forms part of the airport’s wider net zero strategy, which includes a target for SAF to account for 11% of fuel uplift by 2030. The current UK-wide SAF mandate target for 2030 is 10%.
Airlines participating in the scheme receive payments linked to the volume of SAF they purchase and use at Heathrow, subject to eligibility criteria and verification of supply. Heathrow said further operational details for the 2026 programme will be shared with carriers in advance of the compliance year.
