The International Air Transport Association has launched its long-awaited SAF Matchmaker platform, designed to bridge the gap between airlines seeking sustainable aviation fuel and the companies that produce it. The digital platform works by connecting fuel supply offers with airline purchase requests, allowing both parties to move forward with direct negotiations on pricing and contract terms once a potential match is identified, according to the press release.
The platform tackles three key challenges that have been hampering the sustainable aviation fuel market:
Streamlined Operations: By providing a centralized hub, the platform eliminates the need for expensive intermediaries and makes it significantly easier for airlines and fuel producers to find each other. This no-fee approach is expected to boost activity in the voluntary SAF purchasing market.
Market Connections: Fuel producers can showcase their current inventory and planned production volumes, while airlines can express interest in specific quantities they want to purchase. All actual deal-making happens outside the platform once initial connections are established.
Complete Transparency: The platform provides detailed information about each fuel offering, including production volumes, the raw materials used, manufacturing location and technology, emission reduction benefits, and whether the fuel meets international standards like CORSIA or the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive.
Marie Owens Thomsen, who serves as IATA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist, emphasized the platform’s importance for the industry’s climate goals. “Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 requires a SAF market that’s accessible, transparent, active, and efficient,” she explained. “This platform represents another step IATA is taking to build a fully operational SAF marketplace. By cutting through the costs and complications airlines face when looking for fuel suppliers, the SAF Matchmaker should help drive faster adoption of sustainable aviation fuel.”
The platform accommodates both immediate purchases and longer-term supply agreements. While currently restricted to airlines and SAF suppliers, IATA plans to eventually open access to other potential buyers, including corporations outside the aviation sector looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
Users can access the SAF Matchmaker through IATA’s Aviation Energy Hub, which serves as a comprehensive digital resource center offering various tools to help the aviation industry manage its energy needs more effectively.
