KLM and Kenya Airways Lead Policy Breakthrough to Accelerate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Adoption in Africa
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Kenya Airways (KQ) have achieved a major milestone in Africa’s clean aviation transition after co-hosting a high-level executive roundtable in Nairobi that resulted in landmark policy recommendations to accelerate the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) across the continent.
For the first time, key aviation stakeholders, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), reached consensus on a unified set of SAF regulatory and policy actions.
The recommendations include establishing SAF blending mandates, offering incentives for producers, and streamlining certification processes to fast-track market entry. The proposals also encourage cross-sector collaboration among regulators, government agencies, and the private sector to build the necessary infrastructure, such as blending and storage facilities at major airports.
The Nairobi roundtable, held under The Aviation Challenge (TAC) – SkyTeam’s annual sustainability initiative, comes at a critical time for global aviation, which contributes around 2–3% of global CO₂ emissions. With Africa’s passenger traffic expected to double by 2035, industry leaders emphasized the urgent need for sustainable growth pathways.
SAF, produced from renewable resources like waste oils and agricultural residues, can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 65% compared to conventional jet fuel. However, Africa’s adoption remains limited due to regulatory, logistical, and economic barriers.
Participants highlighted that Africa, especially the East and Southern regions, has vast untapped biomass potential for SAF feedstock production. Yet, the absence of harmonized policies and investment incentives continues to hinder large-scale development.
To address this, the roundtable developed a joint SAF Action Roadmap, outlining near-term priorities such as pilot projects in Kenya and the Netherlands, blending infrastructure and capacity-building programs. The roadmap also sets SAF uptake targets for the next decade and calls for academic and industry partnerships to develop local expertise in sustainable fuel technology.
Zita Schellekens, Air France–KLM’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Strategy and Transformation, said the discussions underscored Africa’s leadership potential:
“Africa holds enormous potential to lead in sustainable aviation. Collaboration is key to aligning policy, infrastructure, and innovation to unlock scalable SAF solutions tailored to the region’s strengths.”
Kenya Airways Group MD and CEO Allan Kilavuka echoed this sentiment “As Africa’s aviation landscape evolves, sustainability must be at its core. Kenya Airways is committed to building a SAF ecosystem that benefits our industry, our economy, and our continent.”
The KLM–KQ initiative marks a defining moment in Africa’s green aviation journey, setting the stage for scalable, regionally adapted SAF solutions. With global airlines facing growing pressure to meet net-zero emissions targets by 2050, the collaborative framework emerging from Nairobi positions Africa as a potential frontrunner in sustainable air travel innovation.
Go to ECONEWS.co.ke for more sustainability news from the African continent.
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