Europe’s leading low-fare airlines, Ryanair and Wizz Air, are making minimal operational use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), even as other European operators secure significant financial benefits under the new ReFuelEU mandate.
Data compiled by IBA‘s NetZero platform reveals a major difference between the low-fare giants and established carriers like IAG and Air France-KLM.
Ryanair’s average SAF blend at EU airports was just 0.02%, and Wizz Air’s was even lower at 0.01%. This compares dramatically with IAG’s 3.9% blend.
Despite their current low uptake, both carriers have set some of the most aggressive long-term goals in the industry, pointing to a potential rapid shift in their fuel strategy as supply constraints ease and regulatory mandates take full effect.
While their operational use of SAF is negligible today, both airlines have committed to significant targets by the end of the decade. Ryanair has set a 12.5% SAF blend target by 2030, the highest reported ambition among the major groups analyzed, with Wizz Air aiming for a 10% SAF blend by 2030.
Both carriers currently face substantial CO₂ exposure within the European Union, as measured by IBA NetZero, with Ryanair at an estimated 996,000 tonnes and Wizz Air at 242,000 tonnes.
Low SAF usage means they are currently missing out on the financial benefits offered by SAF-linked allowances under the ReFuelEU scheme, which provides a credit against costs from the Emissions Trading Scheme.
IBA points out that the limited evidence of SAF uplift for Ryanair and Wizz Air does not mean a lack of commitment. Crucially, both carriers have secured supply agreements with major SAF producers.
This suggests their current low operational usage is a reflection of the initial scarcity of available fuel rather than a lack of intent. Their usage is anticipated to increase significantly as SAF volumes become more widely available and as the ReFuelEU mandate, which require all EU airports to offer a minimum percentage of SAF, starting this year, are enforced.
The report warns that the risk lies in future limits on SAF availability and increasing carbon prices, which could force prices up..
“For slower adopters, the risk is that supply constraints and carbon price pressures will narrow future options, forcing later procurement at higher cost. With the first ReFuelEU mandate beginning this year, 2025 credits will be a clearer test of execution. The advantage will rest with those treating SAF not as a short-term burden but as a strategic asset,” say the authors.
