European aviation industry calls for urgent EU and national government action following its updated net-zero roadmap
The Destination 2050 alliance, representing key parts of the European air transport sector, has released an update to its flagship roadmap to net zero, sounding the alarm for urgent action.
The roadmap was launched at a high-level event on 4 February 2025 in Brussels, attended by key institutional stakeholders. The event featured keynote addresses from Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General of DG MOVE; Polish Secretary of State and Government Plenipotentiary for CPK, Maciej Lasek; and a contribution from Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General of DG CLIMA, during a panel discussion. The scientific findings were presented by the roadmap’s authors, leading consultancies NLR and SEO. You can learn more about the science behind the roadmap in our Five Minute Feature with NLR’s Elisabeth de Sman, one of the report’s main authors.
The alliance partners – A4E, ACI EUROPE, ASD, CANSO Europe, and ERA – released the updated roadmap alongside a suite of policy recommendations aimed at accelerating decarbonisation while preserving the far-reaching socio-economic benefits of aviation. The roadmap update comes at a critical juncture for the EU, as it seeks to strengthen its global positioning and competitiveness through the revival of its industrial base.
Despite air transport’s strategic importance to the bloc’s economy – where every 10% increase in air connectivity translates into a 0.5% rise in GDP per capita and a 1.6% increase in employment – the industry has so far received limited support from policymakers.
The updated roadmap reconfirmed that achieving net zero by 2050 remains “mission possible” for European aviation, provided that massive investments from both industry and governments are complemented by a supportive policy and regulatory framework. The alliance proceeded to engage with the European Commission at the highest level, sending an Open Letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging immediate action to safeguard aviation’s competitiveness during the transition to net zero.
The letter made it clear that urgent action from the EU and national governments is needed to ensure the development and deployment of the clean technologies essential for European aviation to remain competitive and reach net zero. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) are the cornerstone of decarbonisation, but the sector faces major challenges related to feedstock availability, production, and costs. SAFs must be complemented by more efficient aircraft technology and Air Traffic Management (ATM) improvements, which can help reduce fuel burn and emissions. According to the report, SAFs, along with aircraft and engine technology, will account for 83% of emissions reductions by 2050.
The call to action is also grounded in economic urgency – with the cost of inaction continuing to rise. Over the past four years, the projected cost of decarbonisation has surged by €480 billion, bringing the total estimated cost to €1.3 trillion.
On 26 February, the Commission launched its Clean Industrial Deal, a new legislative proposal aimed at boosting the bloc’s industrial competitiveness. However, the limited attention given to aviation – effectively delaying action until the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan is introduced in Q3 2025 to support low-carbon fuels and charging infrastructure – was called out by the alliance partners in a dedicated press release.
Important links:
- PRESS RELEASE: 4 February 2025 European aviation sector’s new decarbonisation roadmap is a reality check for the European Commission
- OPEN LETTER to Ursula von der Leyen: 12 February 2025 Competitive & Sustainable Aviation
- PRESS RELEASE: 26 February 2025 Clean Industrial Deal a First Step but Bolder Plan Needed to Defend European Aviation’s Competitiveness in Net Zero Transition
Access the Roadmap and Policy Recommendations: Roadmap – Destination 2050
