Reflections from Sustainable Skies World Congress 2026

Last week I attended the Sustainable Skies World Summit at Farnborough Airport, which featured discussion on the most pressing challenges and innovations shaping the future of sustainable air travel.

Unsurprisingly, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) continues to dominate the conversation, but it was encouraging to cut through with messaging on airspace modernisation and non-CO₂ this year.

It felt noticeably more energetic than previous years, with the level of engagement and urgency across the industry clear. What stood out was not a lack of ideas, but the increasing pressure to deliver against them. Aviation has long understood both the scale of the decarbonisation challenge and the range of solutions available. What feels different now is the level of scrutiny on whether the industry can move quickly enough, and in a coordinated enough way, to translate that understanding into progress.

SAF remains central – but not without challenges

SAF is widely seen as the critical pathway for aviation decarbonisation – but also has the biggest risk to delivering it.

The question is no longer whether SAF is part of the answer, it is whether the system around it can scale fast enough to meet demand.

Mandates are working in one sense: they’ve driven demand and accelerated growth, but they’ve come at a cost. We heard that airlines are spending billions on compliance, raising important questions about efficiency and long-term sustainability of the model.

There’s also a growing divide geographically. Much of the available SAF is currently sourced from the US – particularly California – where supportive policy frameworks and incentives make production more viable. In contrast, higher costs and slower scaling in the UK and Europe remain a challenge.

That said, there are positive signs and the debate has clearly matured. The question is no longer whether SAF is part of the answer, it is whether the system around it can scale fast enough to meet demand. That misalignment is becoming one of the defining tensions in the transition. Without a clearer link between ambition and delivery, there is a risk that confidence begins to outpace capability globally. That said, demand creation is happening, new commercial models are emerging (with companies like DHL passing SAF costs transparently to customers) and mechanisms such as ‘book and claim’ are helping to expand access.

Airspace modernisation taking centre stage

With SAF, hydrogen, and next-generation aircraft all facing delays, one theme stood out clearly this year: what can we do today? Airspace modernisation is the most actionable lever available right now.

This was reflected in the strong turnout for my keynote, and panel session where I was delighted to host an impressive group of industry experts to discuss “The Other Half of the Equation”.

Ian Jopson’s keynote: Why Modern Airspace Matters for Sustainable Flight.

There seems to be a growing recognition that operational improvements can deliver meaningful emissions reductions in the near term. The tools are available, but unlocking their full value depends on collaboration across the network and a willingness to progress changes that are often complex and, at times, contested.

Contrails: from uncertainty to action

One of the most notable shifts from last year was the industry’s stance on non-CO₂ impacts, particularly contrails.

In 2025, the narrative was cautious and there were simply too many uncertainties to act. This year, the tone has changed significantly. The focus is now on action, with large-scale trials seen as the logical next step. I’m looking forward to seeing where this takes us with a potential large-scale first of its kind contrail management trial on the cards in my view.

It’s an encouraging shift, and one that aligns closely with the work we’re exploring in this space.

Hydrogen, electric and the longer-term horizon

While hydrogen and electric aviation remain important parts of the long-term vision, the consensus is that both are still some way off.

There is ongoing R&D, but the gap between innovation and deployment remains significant. For now, the industry is focusing on solutions that can scale in the 2020s and early 2030s.

Funding, policy and the path forward

A recurring theme across discussions was the complexity of financing decarbonisation.

Capital is available – but not always aligned with the realities of aviation. Investors want predictable returns within 10 years, while many sustainability solutions carry longer-term uncertainty. Bridging that gap will be key.

Policy also plays a critical role; stronger carbon pricing, clearer direction, and better alignment between government and industry could unlock significantly more investment.

Encouragingly, there are signs of progress. Financial institutions are beginning to lean into aviation decarbonisation, and innovative mechanisms – such as double-sided auctions for eSAF – are emerging to reduce risk and accelerate deployment.

Multiple lines of action will define success

If there was one clear takeaway, it is that aviation’s transition is no longer a sector-specific challenge. The page of progress will be shaped as much by energy markets, government policy and investment frameworks as by anything within aviation itself. The industry does not control all the levers, but it is increasingly exposed to how quickly others move.

SAF, airspace modernisation, carbon removals, new aircraft technologies, and operational improvements all have a role to play. But success will depend on how effectively these can be brought together – and how quickly it can move from discussion to delivery across boundaries that sit well beyond aviation alone.