RefuelEU aviation – sustainable air transport

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport (refuelEU aviation)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

The regulation aims to ensure that European Union (EU) air transport meets the EU’s climate targets for 2030 and 2050, and plays a key role in delivering on the European climate law, while preserving level playing field on the internal market.

KEY POINTS

RefuelEU aviation

• The refuelEU aviation regulation is a key part of the EU’s fit for 55 package of measures designed to deliver the European Green Deal.
• The regulation creates a strong and stable legal framework to promote the gradual supply and uptake of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in the EU. These aviation fuels generate lower life-cycle emissions than conventional fossil kerosene. The life-cycle emission savings range from 65% to 100% depending on the type of SAF.

Key obligations

• Aviation fuel suppliers must ensure that the aviation fuel blend made available to aircraft operators at EU airports contains a minimum share of SAF from 2025 and a minimum share of synthetic aviation fuels from 2030. Both shares will increase progressively until 2050. The minimum share of SAF will be 2% in 2025, rising to 70% in 2050. The minimum share of synthetic aviation fuels, which also contributes to reaching the SAF minimum share, starts with 0.7% in 2030, rising to 35% in 2050.
• SAF must be compliant with the renewable energy directive (see summary) sustainability and emissions-saving criteria to count to the targets, and SAF is composed of:
  • aviation biofuels, notably advanced biofuels and other biofuels, produced from waste and residues;
  • synthetic aviation fuels, produced from renewable hydrogen; and
  • recycled carbon aviation fuels.
• Additionally, aviation fuel suppliers may choose to meet both minimum shares with hydrogen for direct use in aircraft (renewable and non-fossil low-carbon hydrogen), along with synthetic low-carbon aviation fuels (produced from non-fossil low-carbon hydrogen).
• Aircraft operators departing from EU airports must refuel with the aviation fuel necessary for their entire flight, avoiding the excessive emissions related to extra weight and minimising the risks of carbon leakage caused by tankering practices.
• EU airports’ managing bodies must facilitate access to SAF.

Enforcement, reporting and a new flight label

• The regulation also sets out rules on designating competent authorities in EU Member States to implement and enforce the regulation, and on penalty systems in case of non-compliance.
• The environmental labelling scheme established in this regulation, which measures the environmental performance of the flights, will help consumers make informed choices regarding their transport options and further promote more sustainable aviation.
• Aviation fuel suppliers, EU airports and aircraft operators are required to collect data and report to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and to competent authorities to monitor compliance with their obligations.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2024, with the exception of Articles 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10, which will apply from 1 January 2025.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

• Infographic – Fit for 55: increasing the uptake of greener fuels in the aviation and maritime sectors (Council of the European Union).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport (ReFuelEU Aviation) (OJ L, 2023/2405, 31.10.2023).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Regulation (EU) 2023/956 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism (OJ L 130, 16.5.2023, pp. 52–104).

Council Decision (EU) 2020/954 of 25 June 2020 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the International Civil Aviation Organization as regards the notification of voluntary participation in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) from 1 January 2021 and the option selected for calculating aeroplane operators’ offsetting requirements during the 2021-2023 period (OJ L 212, 3.7.2020, pp. 14–17).

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future (COM(2020) 789 final, 9.12.2020).

Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and amending Regulations (EC) No 2111/2005, (EC) No 1008/2008, (EU) No 996/2010, (EU) No 376/2014 and Directives 2014/30/EU and 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 552/2004 and (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 (OJ L 212 22.8.2018, pp. 1–122).

See consolidated version.

Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (recast) (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, pp. 82–209).

See consolidated version.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2067 of 19 December 2018 on the verification of data and on the accreditation of verifiers pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 334, 31.12.2018, pp. 94–134).

See consolidated version.

Directive 2009/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on airport charges (OJ L 70, 14.3.2009, pp. 11–16).

See consolidated version.

Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, pp. 32–46).

See consolidated version.

last update 19.05.2024