Sustainable Aviation Fuel Adoption in the Transition to Net-Zero Aviation

Abstract

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is considered the most promising short- to medium-term solution for reducing aviation emissions, yet large-scale adoption remains limited. This study examines how governance structures influence SAF adoption in the European aviation sector, using KLM Cityhopper as a qualitative single-case study. The study is based on fifteen semi-structured interviews and a document analysis. The interview and document data were analyzed using an integrated framework combining collaborative governance, sustainability transitions theory, and multi-level governance. The findings show that SAF adoption is constrained by fragmented responsibilities, misaligned incentives, and investment uncertainty, which prevent coordinated collective action. Five governance gaps were identified: unregulated supplier pricing, policy instrument incoherence, national ambition without binding instruments, a principal-agent mismatch within the Air France-KLM Group, and the absence of a formal coordination platform. The study proposes a hybrid governance approach that better aligns responsibilities, risks, and incentives across public and private stakeholders. By conceptualizing limited SAF adoption as a governance deadlock, this research contributes to the literature on aviation decarbonization and highlights the role of governance in enabling coordinated action for aviation decarbonization.