How Heathrow’s SAF incentive aims to tackle critical barriers to adoption

In this episode, we speak with Matthew Gorman, Director of Carbon Strategy and Sustainability at Heathrow Airport. 

With 16 years at the helm of Heathrow's sustainability initiatives, Gorman shares how one of the world’s busiest airports is tackling aviation’s climate impact while maintaining its crucial role in global connectivity.

Gorman discusses:

1. Heathrow’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) incentive scheme, which creates a funding pool through landing charges to help airlines bridge the cost gap of SAF adoption. Starting at 0.5% in 2022, the target will reach 3% by next year, with approximately 20 airlines participating.
2. The breakdown of Heathrow’s carbon footprint, highlighting that nearly 95% comes from aircraft operations, around 5% from ground activities such as surface access and the supply chain, and just 0.1% from direct operations (Scope 1).
3. The future of hydrogen aviation, with expectations of first hydrogen-powered services in the early 2030s starting with turboprops, and how Heathrow is preparing infrastructure through research partnerships and dedicated testing facilities.
4. Their innovative approach to NOx emissions reduction, targeting 18% reduction in airside operations and 60% in non-aircraft operations by 2030, driven by Heathrow’s proximity to London.

Throughout the conversation, Gorman emphasises the critical balance between maintaining aviation’s connectivity benefits while achieving net zero, and how airports can lead the sector’s sustainability transition through influence and advocacy despite controlling only a small fraction of total emissions.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Christina Cassotis, CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport, who shares her ambitious vision for transforming the airport into a sustainable aviation hub. Check it out here. 

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Heathrow 2.0 Sustainability Strategy

Heathrow Airport targets 3% SAF use in 2025 - Biodiesel Magazine 

Heathrow launches ‘Nature Positive Plan’ to tackle biodiversity loss - edie 

Four of UK's biggest airports pledge to ‘Back British SAF’ - Aerospace Global News