Economic and Logistical Implications of the Transition to Sustainable Fuel (SAF) in the Aviation Industry

This bachelor's thesis addresses the economic and logistical implications of the transition to sustainable fuel (SAF) in the aviation industry. Due to the growing pressure to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation, SAF is considered as one of the most promising tools for decarbonizing this sector. The theoretical part of this thesis describes the current production processes of SAF, the legislative and regulatory framework in the European Union as well as in a global context, and analyzes the supply chain, including the main producers of these fuels. The practical part is divided into three main sections. The first part focuses on the analysis of the economic impact of SAF usage on the operating costs of Lufthansa Group. The second part evaluates the approach of 15 selected airlines from different regions of the world to the implementation of SAF, and the third part examines the current use of sustainable aviation fuels at Václav Havel Airport in Prague. The research shows that SAF is currently several times more expensive than conventional fossil fuel, and its market price can only be estimated at this stage. Additionally, the availability of sustainable aviation fuels is still limited primarily to Europe and North America. The higher price of SAF can significantly impact the operating costs of airlines, which often operate with single-digit margins. As a result, some airlines have already started partially passing the additional costs associated with SAF on to their passengers. Although these fuels represent an effective tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in aviation, their broader use is still limited by their higher price and availability.