MAG responds to Government’s announcement on Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate and welcomes consultation on revenue certainty scheme

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) today welcomed the Government’s announcement of a 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate by 2030.

MAG -  the UK’s largest airports group- said the news will see the aviation sector take significant steps towards its target of net zero by 2050.

The Department for Transport announced the mandate would come into force from January 2025, and will be the first of its kind globally.

MAG also marked the launch of a consultation on a revenue certainty scheme for SAF as a significant moment for the aviation sector. 

The Group - which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports - said such a scheme would allow the cost of air travel to remain competitive and create the right conditions for the UK to build a thriving SAF industry.

Neil Robinson, MAG’s Chief Sustainability Officer, said: “MAG welcomes these important steps toward decarbonising our sector, through both the Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate and a preferred option for a revenue certainty mechanism for SAF production in the UK.

"SAF is central to our industry’s comprehensive plan to achieve net zero by 2050, and the UK has the potential to create a world-leading SAF production industry that will keep the cost of flying competitive for millions of people every year.

 “The right revenue certainty mechanism will show that the UK is serious about creating a thriving SAF sector and make the difference in attracting investors and fuel producers to set up in this country, which will create tens of thousands of high-value jobs.

 “We are committed to working constructively with Government and industry partners and will respond to the consultation in due course."

In March, MAG published research with sustainability experts ICF which shows that using household waste to make SAF would be five times better for the environment than burning it to generate electricity.

The research found that, if all the rubbish the UK currently incinerates was used to make SAF instead, the carbon saving would be equivalent to the emissions of at least 46 million people flying from London Stansted Airport to Madrid every year.