By Ross McKenzie, EVP and Co-Leader at Elimini
As the world pushes toward a lower-carbon future, airlines face a defining challenge: balancing the growing demands of global connectivity with the urgent need to reduce emissions.
At least 25 airlines have already committed to setting science-based targets to lower their carbon output, underscoring that decarbonization is not only an ethical imperative; it’s also a source of commercial advantage. The real challenge, however, lies in execution – particularly as the bulk of airlines’ emissions come from the fuel that powers their aircraft.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has long been viewed as the industry’s most promising pathway to decarbonization. Yet, despite more than two decades of efforts, its widespread adoption has faced challenges to scale up. As timelines for climate commitments draw nearer and progress on deploying SAF remains slower than demand, airlines need to identify alternative options that can deliver measurable impact today while SAF continues to develop at scale – or they risk losing credibility with regulators, investors, and climate-conscious travelers as commitments outpace action.
Accelerating Impact Today with CDRs, Shaping the Future with SAF
Carbon dioxide removals (CDRs) offer airlines a practical and more immediate way to demonstrate measurable progress toward their climate commitments. By investing in realistic technologies that are already scaling up, airlines can take a more active role in addressing their carbon footprint now.
CDRs also span a range of emerging technologies – from direct air capture to biochar – giving airlines a flexible path to act today while SAF continues to mature. Investments in CDRs can deliver measurable near-term reductions and, over time, potentially accelerate SAF adoption by stimulating innovation, lowering costs, and expanding supply – ultimately positioning the industry for long-term decarbonization.
One particularly promising pathway involves supporting bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) facilities that are currently in development. Backing these projects gives airlines immediate business advantages, including:
- Differentiation from competitors that are slower to act.
- Loyalty with climate-conscious travelers who expect visible action.
- Reduced regulatory and operational risk tied to carbon-intensive operations.
BECCS can also help address one of SAF’s biggest constraints: limited availability of feedstocks. By converting sustainably sourced biomass – such as agricultural residues or low-grade forestry waste – into renewable electricity, and capturing and storing the resulting emissions, these facilities deliver two key outcomes. They provide permanent CO₂ removals that airlines can purchase as high-quality credits today and help mature the supply chain for sustainable forestry biomass that can be a future feedstock for SAF production.
Airlines like British Airways and All Nippon Airways are already moving in this direction, committing to carbon removal deals aimed at eliminating over 30,000 metric tonnes of carbon per year.
Together, these pathways offer flexibility: near-term impact through removals, and long-term integration into everyday operations.
BECCS Breaks Through
BECCS also stands out for its red-hot traction in the voluntary carbon market. For example, in Q2 2025, BECCS accounted for 74 percent of all-time engineered CDRs in the voluntary carbon market (VCM).
That momentum is reinforced by an increasing number of partnerships and policy signals, including the 45Q carbon removal tax credit being upheld in the U.S., expanding regulatory backing in the EU, and the rise of BECCS CDR offtake agreements. For instance, Elimini recently signed an agreement with Greater Copenhagen’s public utility, HOFOR, to advance the development of a large-scale BECCS facility at the Amagerværket combined heat and power plant.
The momentum is also reaching aviation directly. In September 2025, Wisconsin lawmakers introduced a bill to advance a proposed $1.5 billion woody biomass-to-SAF facility, designed to capture hundreds of thousands of tonnes of CO2 each year while generating high-quality, verified CDRs in addition to SAF.
Charting Aviation’s Climate-Friendly Future
The aviation industry stands at a defining moment. With 2030 climate targets looming, incremental steps will not be enough to meet the expectations of regulators, investors, and customers alike. While SAF remains an essential long-term solution, cost, feedstock, and infrastructure challenges mean scaling will take time.
Airlines have a choice: Wait for technologies to mature, or act now by investing in CDRs from projects like BECCS that offer an immediate way to cut emissions while accelerating the broader ecosystem needed for SAF. Those that move first will demonstrate climate leadership, stabilize long-term fuel access, and prove that even one of the world’s hardest-to-abate sectors can transform under pressure.
To learn how Elimini’s focus on high-integrity carbon removals can help your business scale climate impact, visit elimini.com/aviation.
10/29/25