Updated Destination 2050 Roadmap

The European aviation industry – encompassing airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, aircraft and aero engine manufacturers – stands united in its commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, aligned with the EU Green Deal and the Paris Agreement. At the heart of this commitment lies our alliance, DESTINATION 2050, guided by a collective vision: to make net-zero aviation a reality.

This is our second granular, scientifically driven roadmap, updating the initial roadmap published in 2021 and integrating significant advances in our actions and understanding of decarbonisation measures. These insights form the robust scientific foundation underpinning our policy recommendations.

The path to net-zero aviation is being shaped by transformative solutions across the industry. In addition to advancements in technology, air traffic management (ATM), and aircraft operations – which will enhance aviation’s efficiency and optimise its use of energy resources – Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is central to decarbonisation. SAF is projected to deliver the largest share of emission reductions in aviation by 2050. However, achieving this potential depends on effective collaboration between the aviation sector, the energy industry, EU policymakers, and public and private investors to accelerate the development and scaling of SAF production in support of decarbonisation goals.

To this end, we urge policymakers to:

Prioritise aviation in the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal, as well as establish a dedicated Aviation Industrial Strategy that drives decarbonisation whilst strengthening global competitiveness.
Champion Europe’s emerging SAF industry as the next great success story, unlocking prosperity, creating jobs, enhancing energy sovereignty, and building strategic resilience in a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.

The good news is that net-zero aviation by 2050 remains within reach, thanks to advances in aircraft and engine technology, improvements in ATM and aircraft operations, the adoption of alternative fuels, and out-of-sector measures such as carbon removals. However, we cannot do it alone. Achieving this goal demands a united effort. Policymakers and investors must work shoulder-to-shoulder with the aviation sector to ensure sustained support for critical research programmes and infrastructure that will accelerate progress toward decarbonisation.

With this updated roadmap, we, the DESTINATION 2050 partners, present a clear and actionable pathway to achieve net-zero aviation emissions by 2050. This is a historic opportunity to shape a competitive, sustainable European aviation sector that sets a global standard for decarbonising a hard-to-abate sector.