In this episode, we speak with Aaron Robinson, Vice President of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at the International Airlines Group (IAG), which has become the top airline globally for SAF use.

IAG is one of the visionary companies featured in our new book Sustainability in the Air: Volume Two. You can learn more about the book and order a copy here.

Robinson discusses:

1. How IAG leveraged European incentives, Heathrow Airport programmes, and emissions trading schemes to make SAF economically viable whilst partnering with corporate customers like DHL and Microsoft to fund the price gap.
2. Why 52% of airlines globally still haven’t used any SAF, exploring how the industry’s safety culture can create resistance to technological change and first-mover disadvantage.
3. The cultural and policy differences driving higher SAF adoption rates in Europe versus North 
4. How regulatory backlash against sustainability claims can discourage innovation and communication about genuine progress.
5. The role of book-and-claim systems in optimising SAF deployment whilst developing production capacity in emerging markets across Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
6. Why the industry needs both elements – collaboration to build infrastructure foundations and healthy competition to drive innovation.

Note: This interview was recorded in August 2024. For the latest figures on SAF use, follow Robinson’s ongoing LinkedIn series. You can read the first post here.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Jolanda Stevens, Program Manager for Zero Emission Aviation at KLM, who shares how the airline is advancing sustainable aviation through innovation, partnerships, and strategic investment. Check it out here. 

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & more:

Sustainability – International Airlines Group

Infinium and Twelve raise a total of up to $1.7 billion towards eSAF production – GreenAir News

Microsoft backs SAF for Scope 3 business travel emissions in agreements with IAG and FEG – GreenAir News  

British Airways owner IAG ups sustainable fuel intake with Infinium – Forbes