The global aviation industry just got a major boost in its push toward sustainability. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry, a system designed to track and verify SAF transactions worldwide. Now managed by the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization (CADO), the registry aims to create a transparent and reliable marketplace for SAF, helping airlines and corporate customers account for their emissions reductions.

Ensuring Transparency in SAF Transactions

With aviation responsible for about 2-3% of global carbon emissions, the industry is under increasing pressure to cut its environmental impact. SAF — fuel made from renewable sources like used cooking oil or agricultural waste — has been touted as a key solution. But there’s a problem: supply is extremely limited, and it’s often difficult to track who is using SAF and how much of a difference it’s actually making.

That’s where the SAF Registry comes in, according to IATA. The system is designed to ensure that every gallon of SAF is properly recorded, eliminating concerns about double counting and allowing airlines to claim their SAF investments toward emissions reductions.

“Aviation’s decarbonization is a team effort,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s senior vice president of sustainability and chief economist. “In releasing the SAF Registry to CADO for launch, we have put in place a critical platform for the benefit of all stakeholders. It ensures that all airlines in the world have access to SAF and that their SAF purchases can be claimed against any climate-related obligations in this domain.”

One of the biggest barriers to SAF adoption has been its availability. Right now, production is concentrated in just a few locations, making it logistically difficult—and expensive—for many airlines to incorporate SAF into their operations. The registry could help solve that problem by connecting fuel producers with airlines no matter where they are, making it easier for the industry to scale up SAF usage.

Beyond airlines, the registry is also designed to involve corporate customers. Large businesses that rely on air travel for their operations have been looking for ways to offset their emissions, and the registry gives them a way to directly invest in SAF. By purchasing SAF credits, companies can contribute to aviation’s decarbonization while also meeting their own sustainability goals.

CADO, the organization now responsible for maintaining and operating the registry, was founded in March and is based in Montreal. While IATA played a key role in creating the system, the goal is for the registry to operate independently, with membership open to international organizations and companies across the SAF supply chain.

Already, more than 30 companies—including airlines and aerospace firms—have started the onboarding process. Participation in the registry is free until April 2027, at which point it will switch to a cost-recovery model.

Despite the enthusiasm around the registry, industry leaders acknowledge that this is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. SAF currently accounts for less than 1% of total aviation fuel use, and without significant policy support, scaling up production will remain a challenge.