New Delhi: India is stepping up preparations to shift its aviation sector towards cleaner fuel as global rules on cutting aircraft emissions come into force from January 2027. Even as final guidelines are still being worked out, industry officials say the country already has the raw materials and airport systems needed to meet its international commitments on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), The Economic Times reported.
India must follow emission control rules set under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. As part of this, airlines will be required to gradually blend SAF with conventional jet fuel, starting with international flights.
Deepak Ballani, Director General of the Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association, said IndiaтАЩs total SAF requirement could reach around 0.72 billion litres by 2030 to meet CORSIA timelines.
The government has indicated blending targets of 1 per cent in 2027, 2 per cent in 2028 and 5 per cent by 2030. As India is a member of ICAO, it is required to comply with the mandatory phase of CORSIA from 2027.
Ballani said India has built one of the strongest biofuel systems in the world and is now the third-largest biofuel producer globally. He said the ethanol blending programme has created enough capacity across the supply chain to support SAF production. Even after accounting for processing losses, he said the ethanol needed for aviation fuel would remain well within the countryтАЩs surplus capacity and would not affect existing fuel-blending plans.
Airport authorities said the countryтАЩs major airports are already equipped to handle blended aviation fuel once national rules are notified. A senior official from the Airports Authority of India said both privately operated airports and those run by AAI can move to SAF use without major changes.
Rajesh Nilkanth Shinde, Executive Director (Technical) at AAI, said the physical infrastructure is already in place and only the fuel mix will change. He added that where facilities are not available at smaller airports, they can be developed without much difficulty.
Shinde said discussions are ongoing among the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and fuel suppliers on blending levels, certification processes and production volumes.
Fuel supply at airports is currently handled by companies such as Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. At large hubs like Delhi International Airport, fuel infrastructure is managed through joint ventures involving oil companies and airport operators.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is working on a national SAF policy that is expected to provide long-term clarity for airlines and investors. Satish Kumar, President and Executive Director of the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy, said blending levels will depend on government targets and how airlines factor fuel costs into ticket pricing.
Globally, SAF is priced higher than conventional jet fuel, often costing two to three times more due to limited production and higher financing costs. However, Ballani said the impact on ticket prices in India is expected to be minimal in the initial phase.
He said that at a 1 per cent blend, the overall increase in fuel costs would be small and unlikely to significantly affect passenger fares. He added that costs should fall over time as domestic production rises and technology improves, similar to what has been seen in solar power and ethanol.
Aviation accounts for about 2.5 per cent of global carbon emissions, with aircraft fuel use contributing the majority. Along with SAF adoption, aircraft and engine makers are developing planes that can run on cleaner fuel and use less energy.
India is currently the worldтАЩs third-largest domestic aviation market. Passenger traffic is projected to grow sharply, reaching around 1.1 billion by 2040, while the commercial aircraft fleet is expected to expand more than five times. This rapid growth, experts say, underlines the need for a strong framework to support cleaner air travel in the years ahead.
