ICAO and IATA Expand Cooperation on Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tracking

A stronger framework for tracking aviation fuels

The International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Air Transport Association announced an expanded cooperation agreement during ICAO Aviation Climate Week on 2 June 2026. The initiative focuses on improving transparency, data quality and the credibility of systems used to track the production, distribution and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels.

The organisations will examine how information collected through SAF registries can support ICAO’s monitoring and reporting framework. They will also consider how fuel-accounting systems could provide more consistent recognition of emissions reductions across international aviation.

Why fuel tracking matters

As aviation fuel supply chains become more complex, reliable accounting is increasingly important. A fuel may be produced in one location, supplied through shared infrastructure and claimed by an airline operating elsewhere. Transparent registries can help document fuel origin, sustainability characteristics and the associated emissions reductions without requiring every aircraft to receive physically segregated fuel. This interpretation reflects the role described for global fuel-accounting and monitoring systems in the ICAO–IATA announcement.

The agreement does not introduce a new fuel mandate. Instead, it aims to strengthen the systems used to measure progress toward the aviation sector’s climate targets and improve confidence in reported SAF deployment.

The role of synthetic aviation fuels

Synthetic aviation fuels, including electricity-based e-kerosene pathways, form part of the broader SAF landscape. Under Europe’s ReFuelEU Aviation framework, SAF supply obligations began at 2% in 2025 and are scheduled to increase over time. A separate synthetic-fuel sub-mandate begins at 0.7% in 2030 and rises progressively toward 2050.

The scale-up challenge remains significant. EASA reports that SAF represented only a small share of global jet-fuel use in 2024, while future regulatory targets will require a substantial expansion in production capacity. SAF must also meet recognised fuel standards and sustainability criteria before entering aviation supply chains.

ICAO’s production-facility tracker also warns that announced capacity should not automatically be treated as guaranteed supply. Some facilities may produce several different fuels, and the final proportion directed toward aviation can remain uncertain until projects reach operation and commercial allocation is confirmed.

What happens next

The ICAO–IATA cooperation signals a growing focus on the infrastructure surrounding cleaner aviation fuels—not only production, but also certification, registry systems, emissions accounting and international reporting.

For synthetic aviation fuels, these systems will be essential. Scaling e-kerosene will require more than technically producing a compatible liquid fuel. It will also require credible documentation of electricity inputs, carbon sourcing, production pathways, lifecycle performance and final allocation within the aviation market.