[Impact Interview] Airbus Eyes SAF Scale-Up in APAC as Key to Net-Zero Aviation

Introduction:

Onsite at the SAF APAC Summit, Mr. Stephen Forshaw, Senior Vice President and Chief Representative for Airbus in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific shared how the aerospace leader is moving beyond aircraft manufacturing to actively build the ecosystem that enables sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption across the Asia–Pacific region.

Executive Summary:

1. A Twin-Track Pathway to Net Zero

• Achieving net-zero emissions in aviation by 2050 requires a dual focus: improving aircraft fuel efficiency and scaling Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) deployment. Mr. Stephen noted that while each generation of Airbus aircraft delivers fuel efficiency improvements of 20–25%, only SAF provides the scalable, near-term decarbonisation solution—reducing lifecycle emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional jet fuel, and compatible with existing fleets and refuelling infrastructure.

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2. Closing the Policy–Production Gap

• Despite strong regional ambition, the SAF landscape in APAC remains uneven. Singapore and Japan have moved forward with policy mandates, but Australia, with abundant feedstock, still lacks the investment and policy support needed to kickstart commercial-scale production. “We have the feedstock, we have the demand—but without investment signals and government support, we’ll end up exporting biomass for others to refine,” Mr. Stephen warned.

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3. From Investor to Ecosystem Builder

• Through its SAF investment fund in partnership with Qantas, Airbus has initiated seed funding for domestic SAF ventures and holds weekly project reviews. This partnership aims to transform agricultural and forestry waste into viable feedstock pathways while serving as a collaborative model for airlines and manufacturers to de-risk early-stage SAF development.

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4. Beyond Aircraft: Enabling the SAF Ecosystem

• Airbus sees itself increasingly as a system integrator for decarbonised aviation. From co-investing with airlines to engaging governments and financiers, Mr. Stephen highlighted Airbus’ broader role in aligning the SAF value chain, with the ambition to help APAC rapidly scale SAF infrastructure to meet both climate targets and the region’s growing air travel demand.​