Airlines with extensive operations to and from the Canary Islands can breathe a sigh of relief following the latest regulation from the European Union (EU), which has granted a five-year grace period for the use of biofuels on their routes to the archipelago.
The European Parliament confirmed the new regulation aimed at reducing emissions in the aviation sector this week. It will require airlines using airports within the European Union to operate their flights with at least 2% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) starting in 2025.
However, the text grants an exemption from this mandatory requirement until 2030 to airports located in the so-called Outermost Regions (ORs), which include the Canary Islands.
However, this exemption is not entirely guaranteed, as the Eurochamber has decided to give Member States the authority to enforce this measure at airports exempted from its application without prior consultation with European authorities.
This means that the final decision to end this exemption in island airports before 2030, is under the jurisdiction of the Spanish government.
