Sustainability Struggles as Jet Shortages Dominate Aviation Conference
At the Airline Economics conference, sustainability took a backseat as airlines focus on jet shortages and parts delays, leading to concerns about the long-term aviation emissions goals.

Photo Source: The Economic Times
At the annual Airline Economics conference, discussions were notably absent of the usual emphasis on sustainability as the aviation industry grapples with immediate operational challenges, particularly parts shortages and jet delays. As airlines face difficulties keeping their fleets running, sustainability has taken a step back, despite the European Union’s rising expectations for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon reduction targets.
While some industry leaders acknowledged the importance of sustainability, they highlighted that current challenges—such as the need to keep aging jets in service longer—have shifted priorities. According to Simon Newitt, president of Heart Aerospace, while sustainability remains crucial, “short-term issues” are occupying more attention.
This year’s conference saw a reduced optimism around achieving the 2050 net-zero carbon emissions target for aviation, a sector that contributes 2-3% of global carbon emissions. Delegates expressed skepticism about the progress toward increasing SAF supply, with some industry figures stating that the goals might be harder to reach than previously thought.
Despite the growing focus on short-term challenges, industry leaders like Rob Morris from Cirium Ascend warned that sustainability would only become a bigger issue. He emphasized that regulators will hold the sector accountable if it doesn’t show significant progress toward net zero.
The aviation industry has faced mounting scrutiny over greenwashing accusations, especially in Europe, despite ongoing partnerships and initiatives aimed at reducing emissions. Moreover, global markets have seen contrasting views on sustainability, with some regions embracing air travel growth while others resist flying due to environmental concerns.
Though the road to net-zero emissions remains difficult, figures like Ryanair’s Thomas Fowler argue that small steps, such as meeting SAF blend mandates, are key for setting industry precedents.
With continued short-term pressures and growing regulatory demands, the aviation industry is under increasing scrutiny to balance sustainability goals with the operational needs of a rapidly recovering global air travel market.