IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the airline industry's 2050 net-zero emissions target may need a realistic reset. Speaking at the 82nd Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Walsh pointed to two main problems: sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production is growing too slowly, and the supply of eligible carbon credits for the CORSIA offset scheme is far below what airlines will need. IATA expects SAF production to reach 2.4 million tons this year, covering only 0.8% of airline fuel demand. The 2050 target would require 500 million tons, or about 65% of fuel needs. On carbon credits, airlines will need between 170 million and 236 million eligible units for the first phase of CORSIA, but only 10 countries have made units available so far, totaling 38 million. Walsh urged governments to use production incentives rather than mandates and called for an urgent dialogue to set a realistic timeline and clarify what each part of the aviation sector can deliver.
