Airbus has taken a significant step towards expanding the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by testing a new approach 'Book and Claim' (in Portuguese, 'reserve and claim'). This initiative seeks to boost both the supply and demand for SAF worldwide, offering a flexible and scalable solution to accelerate its adoption.
The first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by SMBC Aviation Capital, followed by AerCap, Comlux, Luxaviation, Novespace, Rive Private Investment and SAF Aerogroup, who confirmed their interest in participating in this collaborative initiative, reinforcing the industry’s intention to expand SAF adoption.
In simple , the approach 'book and claim' allows a buyer to ‘book’ a certain quantity of SAF and ‘claim’ the corresponding emissions reduction, even if the fuel is used elsewhere. Through a pilot program that will run throughout 2025, Airbus will use this system to improve the accessibility of SAF for potential customers, especially those with limited stocks and far from supply points.
As a facilitator, Airbus will purchase SAF certificates and manage the associated sustainability attributes through the registry with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), a renowned sustainability certification organization. These certificates will then be resold to interested customers, such as aircraft and helicopter operators, stimulating short-term demand for SAF.
The pilot program is expected to generate important insights into the capability and robustness of the innovative “book and claim” model. It will also assess market interest in third-party facilitation of integrated SAF solutions.
Airbus SAF and Carbon Dioxide Removal Director Julien Manhes highlighted that “ing the 'book and claim' SAF is an immediate solution that contributes to the development and expansion of the global market. For many smaller operators, access to SAF can be challenging, depending on the quantity required. Through this initiative, Airbus can simplify and de-risk the process for operators and fuel suppliers by financially securing SAF certificates upfront and sharing them when customers need them. This is also an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that 'book and claim' is reliable and that its use should be expanded in both voluntary and regulatory markets.
