New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced that India will soon introduce a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) policy to accelerate decarbonisation in aviation. Highlighting India’s 750 million tonnes of biomass capacity, he said the country could emerge as a global leader in SAF production, cutting carbon emissions and crude oil imports while creating up to one million green jobs.
Speaking at the India Sustainable Aviation Fuel Summit organised by FICCI in partnership with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Minister underlined the urgent need for clarity, collaboration, and commitment among all stakeholders to meet the aviation sector’s growing energy demand.
“The aviation sector continues to expand faster than most other transport segments, with an annual growth rate of 6.7 per cent and nearly 10 million passenger trips expected in 2025,” said Kinjarapu. “Our ATF consumption is projected to reach 15–16 million tonnes by 2030 and 30–31 million tonnes by 2040. The solution lies in Sustainable Aviation Fuel, which can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to conventional jet fuels.”
He confirmed that the Ministry is finalising the SAF policy to accelerate adoption. “The Ministry has been taking robust steps to speed up the SAF movement, and we are committed to releasing the SAF policy soon,” he stated.
Highlighting India’s potential, Kinjarapu said that as an agricultural powerhouse generating over 750 million tonnes of biomass, the country can become a global leader in SAF production. This transition, he said, could reduce India’s crude oil import bill by US$ 5–7 billion annually and generate around one million green jobs across the SAF value chain.
Over the past nine years, India has added 90 airports and 400 aircraft, while scheduled flight movements have risen by 78 per cent . The government plans to add 50 airports in the next five years and 200 more over the next two decades, with passenger traffic projected to reach 500 million annually.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of Civil Aviation, noted that decarbonising aviation is a shared global responsibility. “Our ambition to achieve a 5 per cent SAF blending target by 2030 is not just a goal but a declaration of intent to lead by example,” he said.
Adding an industry perspective, Jurgen Westermeier, Chairman, FICCI National Civil Aviation Committee and President & MD, Airbus India & South Asia, called SAF a transformative opportunity. “For India, SAF goes beyond environmental targets—it can enhance energy security and sovereignty,” he said.
Ashish Saraf, Co-Chairman, FICCI Civil Aviation Committee and Vice President & Country Head India, Pratt & Whitney, added, “Sustainable Aviation Fuel is the cornerstone of India’s Net Zero aviation story. It can reduce emissions by up to two-thirds, positioning India as a global SAF hub.”
The event also saw the release of the FICCI–KPMG Thought Leadership Report on sustainable aviation.
