The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will create the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Matchmaker to link airlines and SAF suppliers.

The expected launch date is in the first quarter of 2025.

"Our vision is to create a transparent, efficient, and accessible matchmaking platform that will accelerate the uptake of SAF as the aviation industry progresses towards net zero CO2 emissions by 2050," said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's senior vice president of Sustainability and chief economist. 

"The platform will do that by reducing the costs and complications that airlines face when looking for SAF suppliers. The SAF market's maturity and globalization will be enhanced by the transparency that the SAF Matchmaker will enable," she added.

Owens Thomsen noted that this development is highly important, as SAF is the most significant decarbonization tool for air transportation.

Specifically, the SAF Matchmaker will address three critical issues: connectivity, visibility, and efficiency.

"SAF producers and suppliers will be able to post available or planned SAF volumes, and airlines will be able to register their interest in purchasing shown or desired SAF volumes. Any subsequent trades will take place outside the platform," the announcement said.

In terms of visibility, the platform will carry comprehensive information on the SAF available, such as volumes, the feedstock used, the location and technology of production, emissions reductions, and compliance with the Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) or the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive (EU RED). 

In terms of efficiency, IATA said the availability of a central platform will simplify SAF procurement by making it easier and faster for all parties to connect. It will also facilitate the development of market intelligence based on data that the platform will generate. 

"The initial focus of the platform will be airlines and SAF suppliers. In due course governments and non-aviation corporate SAF buyers will also be able to participate," IATA added.