Colombia advances as leader in sustainable aviation fuels

The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar recent mission to Colombia saw significant milestones in the country's emergence as a leader of Latin America’s rapidly developing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) sector.

During his 9 to11 July visit to Medellín, the Secretary General opened the F-AIR Colombia 2025 academic agenda. He led a regional roundtable discussion focused on advancing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) throughout the Americas, bringing together civil aviation authorities, fuel producers, aviation associations, and multilateral financial institutions. His opening remarks to the F-AIR academic agenda provided a further opportunity to emphasize the urgency of accelerating aviation's climate transition, particularly through research and innovation.

The Secretary General's visit comes as ICAO Member States prepare for the organization’s 42nd Assembly, where they are expected to renew their commitment to the " collective long-term global aspirational goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050."

"We are already three years into the net-zero journey, and the supporting technical work completed by ICAO shows that reaching this target will require a broad energy transition across the aviation ecosystem," Mr. Salazar told the F-AIR audience. He emphasized that SAFs "are expected to contribute by far the largest share of emissions reductions" in meeting the 2050 target, while also highlighting the collective global aspirational vision to reduce CO2 emissions in international aviation by 5 per cent by 2030 through the use of SAF, lower carbon aviation fuels and other aviation cleaner energies.

The mission culminated with Colombia's formal adhesion to ICAO's Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ACT-SAF) Programme, a global initiative aimed at accelerating sustainable aviation fuel adoption through international cooperation and capacity building.

Recognition of Colombia's leadership
Mr. Salazar highlighted Colombia's growing influence in the region's sustainability efforts, stating that the F-Air "event also highlights Colombia's growing leadership in promoting sustainable aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean."

The Secretary General emphasized that the F-AIR roundtable provided "a timely and strategic opportunity for open dialogue among Civil Aviation Authorities, Ministries, and industry leaders from across the Americas" to "examine the challenges and opportunities of SAF development at the regional level and to share concrete ideas for accelerating implementation."

He praised Colombia's comprehensive approach to SAF development, noting that "Colombia's Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap sets out a strategy to develop SAF supply chains, promote investment, and establish an enabling policy environment."

The roundtable discussions revealed strong momentum for regional cooperation in SAF development. Participants called for a collaborative regional framework that would allow States to contribute proportionally and reduce duplication of efforts through shared infrastructure and logistical integration.

The Secretary General's engagements extended to key bilateral meetings with  government and private sector stakeholders. His discussions with Brigadier General (R.A.) Jose Henry Pinto Rodríguez, Director General of Colombia's Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronáutica Civil (UAEAC), addressed regulatory coordination and implementation challenges that will be fundamental to SAF deployment.

Building on these governmental discussions, the Secretary General held extensive meetings with private sector leaders. He held a bilateral meeting the President of Ecopetrol and also met with Fedepalma and Fedebiocombustibles, who emphasized their commitment to advancing SAF development. Key challenges identified included high production costs, regulatory uncertainty, and the need for fiscal incentives. Furthermore, discussions focused on advancing feedstocks certification efforts and addressing international market concerns.

During his meetings with Avianca and LATAM airline representatives, the Secretary General explored opportunities for airline participation in regional SAF initiatives and discussing the challenges facing carriers in adopting sustainable fuels.

The Secretary General's engagement extended beyond Colombian stakeholders, with strategic meetings during international pavilion receptions at the F-AIR 2025 exhibition. These included discussions with United States and Sweden representatives, reflecting the international dimension of SAF development cooperation.

The Secretary General was accompanied throughout his engagements in Colombia by ICAO’s Director of the Air Transport Bureau, Mr. Mohamed Rahma, Regional Director for South America, Mr. Fabio Rabbani and Regional Director for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, Mr. Christopher Barks.