Aviation White Paper

Policy Engagement Overview

InfluenceMap detected that engagement with aviation policy consultations appears mostly supportive of introducing policy to decarbonize aviation. Advocacy from the aviation and oil and gas industry appeared to be split on which policy mechanism should be introduced to promote sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), with some groups supporting a binding SAF mandate and others urging SAF incentives.

Policy Engagement Trends

• Support for a SAF mandate was led by Qantas. Qantas supported the introduction of an incrementally increasing SAF mandate, with a 50% emissions reduction criteria, starting in 2026 at 1.5%, increasing to 5% in 2030, 12% in 2035, and 28% in 2040. While broadly supporting SAF incentives, the Business Council of Australia (BCA) stated that a number of members support the introduction of a SAF mandate.

• Other entities appeared unsupportive of SAF mandates, instead promoting SAF incentives. While supporting SAF incentives, the Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ) appeared unsupportive of SAF mandates, asserting mandates should only be introduced if complemented by incentive programs. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also appeared to support SAF mandates only if coupled with incentive programs, and Virgin Australia emphasized cost and competitiveness concerns resulting from SAF mandates, while supporting SAF incentives. ExxonMobil and Boeing also broadly supported policies incentivizing SAFs.

• BP, Qantas, ExxonMobil and A4ANZ supported the introduction of an Australian Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). In the Aviation Green paper consultation responses all four entities appeared supportive of a LCFS, with BP calling for the introduction of an LCFS for domestic travel from 2027.

• ExxonMobil and Qantas urged stringent SAF emissions calculations ExxonMobil and Qantas appeared to call for the adoption of the global standard for SAF emissions calculations, developed by the UN body for aviation, the International Civil Aviation Organization. Virgin Australia supported the use of sustainability certification schemes, however support for ICAO approved schemes was unclear.