Exploring airport investment in the eSAF supply chain
01.06.2026
As the aviation sector accelerates its transition towards net zero, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a key lever for reducing emissions. Within this landscape, synthetic fuels such as eSAF are gaining increasing attention, offering strong long-term potential while also presenting new challenges for the industry.
Within the Stargate project, Arup is exploring the potential role of airports in the eSAF supply chain, with a particular focus on direct investment. While airports have traditionally contributed through enabling actions such as partnerships, incentives and stakeholder coordination, direct financial involvement in the fuel supply chain remains a relatively new and complex area.
The document presented below gives an overview of key strategic considerations, including how airports could position themselves as investors, where opportunities and limitations lie across the supply chain, and which factors influence the viability of eSAF projects. It also looks at the importance of collaboration, highlighting how partnership models and blended finance approaches can help manage risk while accelerating deployment.
Designed as an exploratory resource, this work aims to inform ongoing discussions within the Stargate consortium and beyond. It underlines that any potential investment should be carefully aligned with airport-specific strategies, capabilities and risk appetite, while contributing to the broader transition towards more sustainable aviation.