Why Asia Pacific Needs the One Sky Policy

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Ros Johnston

Senior Conference Producer and Content Manager
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Sustainable Aviation Futures

Asia Pacific is poised to become the world’s most dynamic aviation market, yet the region’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) scale-up still faces fragmented policies, uneven certification pathways, and financing hurdles. This year, the Sustainable Aviation Futures APAC Congress features the brand new One Sky Policy Summit, designed to move the conversation from aspiration to action: connecting lessons from European first-movers with Asia Pacific’s national roadmaps, and converting them into a practical blueprint for cross-regional SAF corridors.

The EU and UK SAF Policy Toolbox

Europe’s SAF mandates and toolkits have become a global reference point in scale-up roadmaps, useful not because they’re perfect, but because they show what can accelerate deployment and what slows it down. Kicking off the One Sky Policy Summit, Fabrice Espinosa (Asia SAF Association), Jeff Caton (Axens), and more, explore:

·        Providing an overview of ReFuelEU Aviation mandates and the UK SAF policy roadmaps

·        Assessing financial mechanisms to de-risk SAF production: Exploring innovations for Contract for Difference, tax credits and state-aid exemptions are unlocking SAF capital

·        Certification and standards harmonisation: How could the development of common standards support global SAF trade?

·        Lessons learnt from first movers: Key takeaways from early SAF implementation, including infrastructure and feedstock logistics

·        Europe as a blueprint or cautionary tale: What has worked and what comes next for the implementation of support policies?

This session offers the opportunity to hear from European policy makers as they discuss the impact of implementation, and expected outcomes in the year ahead.

The ASEAN & Asia-Pacific Policy Landscape

ASEAN and the wider APAC landscape are gaining momentum: blending targets are emerging, domestic production is advancing, and ministries are honing implementation plans. But national challenges remain, especially around bankable feedstocks, certification clarity, and investor confidence.

This session convenes ministry representatives including Manat Chavanaprayoon (Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand), Zhiyuan Yang (SAF Center – Second Research Institute of CAAC), Jennifer Anne (Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Indonesia to compare what’s working on the ground:

·        Analysing existing and upcoming regional SAF blending targets and their expected outcomes

·        Providing case studies on the impact of support mechanisms in the market

·        Highlighting challenges in investment, certification and scaling domestic production in Asia Pacific

·        Addressing current feedstock development strategies and infrastructure gaps

Certification Standards, Lifecycle analysis and book-and-claim alignment

Even the strongest policies can falter if sustainability accounting isn’t trusted – a questions around the mechanics of accounting, credibility, and book and claim arise time and time again. In this session, our experts dive deep on:

·        Is a unified Asia-Europe sustainability reporting framework possible for enabling global SAF markets?

·        How do regional policies influence feedstock eligibility, carbon intensity thresholds and project bankability?

·        Convening international regulatory to explore opportunities for collaboration to align GHG accounting frameworks and digital SAF crediting tools

·        Is a harmonised framework desirable and achievable in the current SAF space?

With leaders including Dietmar Posselt (Asia SAF Association), Marcus Law (SGTradeX), Arnaud Brolly (EC Impact) and Koh Chen Ning (A* Research Centre), the session explores practical approaches to align systems fast enough to meet industry targets.

Achieving a “One Sky” SAF Corridor

The One Sky Policy Summit, and Sustainable Aviation Futures APAC Congress, closes with the all important question: how do we connect Asia’s SAF industry through a unified SAF ecosystem?

·        Charting the path towards a cross-continental SAF corridor and harmonising sustainability standards, interoperable certification frameworks and shared investment

·        Readiness for CORSIA: What progress has the region made in preparing for CORSIA’s implementation and do alignment gaps still exist?

·        Defining the pillars of a SAF corridor: How can regional hubs serve as a key anchor

·        Creating a harmonised book and claim system across different regulatory regimes

·        What financial tools can be mobilised by to support SAF corridor development?

Guided by Gabriel Ho (Asia SAF Association) and Tetsuya Azuma (METI), this session is built to produce actionable next steps, working towards the endorsement of a joint communique, outlining the priority collaboration areas, the formation of a working group and providing a timeline for SAF policy announcements in 2026.

What You’ll Take Away from the One Sky Policy Summit at Sustainable Aviation Futures APAC Congress

1. A near-term policy map linking Europe’s lessons to Asia’s national priorities, so you can prioritise the most important markets and partnerships

2. A financing playbook for de-risking projects in different markets

3. A deeper understanding of certification alignment to keep LCA, GHG accounting, and digital SAF credit tools interoperable across borders

4. A SAF corridor framework identifying hubs, logistics needs, and governance structures

5. Real connections with the people who can drive the industry forwards

If you’re serious about scaling SAF in Asia Pacific, this is where policy meets project finance, certification meets credibility, and national roadmaps connect.

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