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China Continuously Improves SAF Policy Framework to Drive Green Transition of Aviation Industry

In recent years, China has accelerated policy layout in the field of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The policy framework, from top-level design to specific implementation plans, has gradually become clear, with existing practical flight application cases providing strong support for the green and low-carbon transition of the aviation industry.

At the national strategic level, the ‘Carbon Peaking Action Plan Before 2030’ clearly proposes vigorously promoting alternative fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel to replace traditional fossil fuels. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) further clarified goals in the ‘14th Five-Year Special Plan for Civil Aviation Green Development’, striving to achieve a cumulative SAF consumption of 50,000 tons during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and an annual consumption of over 20,000 tons by 2025. Nine ministries and commissions including the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) proposed supporting the R&D and promotion of advanced technological equipment in fields such as bio-aviation kerosene in the ‘14th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development’. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other departments jointly issued the ‘Development Outline for Green Aviation Manufacturing Industry (2023-2035)’, which points out that by 2025, the demonstration application of domestic civil aircraft using SAF will be realized.

Driven by policies, the practical application of SAF has steadily advanced. In June 2024, COMAC's ARJ21 regional jet and C919 large jet completed their first demonstration flights with SAF refueling respectively, verifying the compatibility between domestic aircraft and SAF. In September of the same year, the NDRC and CAAC launched an SAF application pilot project, where 12 flights operated by Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines departing from 4 airports including Beijing Daxing and Chengdu Shuangliu took the lead in using SAF. In March 2025, all domestic flights at these 4 airports began regular refueling with blended fuel containing 1% SAF, achieving a leap from demonstration to regular application.

The introduction of these policies and the advancement of practical applications are important measures for China to implement the ‘dual carbon’ goals. They will promote the large-scale commercial application of SAF and inject impetus into the in-depth decarbonization of the aviation industry.