Kenya Airways and KLM Chart First Regional SAF Policy Roadmap to Power Sustainable Aviation in Africa

Nairobi, Kenya – October 6, 2025 _ Kenya Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today hosted a high-level executive roundtable in Nairobi, achieving a landmark consensus on the development of a regional policy and investment roadmap for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Africa. 

The roundtable brought together senior representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For the first time, these key aviation stakeholders agreed on a unified approach to accelerate the production and use of SAF across the continent. 

The discussions culminated in a Nairobi SAF Policy Roadmap that outlines priority actions to position Africa as a leader in sustainable aviation. These include introducing national SAF blending mandates to stimulate demand among airlines, providing fiscal incentives such as tax reliefs and subsidies to encourage local production, and streamlining certification and approval processes to ease market entry for new players. The roadmap also calls for stronger cross-border collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to harmonise standards and mobilise investment in SAF infrastructure and supply chains. 

The meeting took place at a defining moment for global aviation, which currently contributes between two and three percent of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions. With passenger traffic in Africa projected to double by 2035, the region’s abundant biomass resources and renewable energy potential give it a unique opportunity to play a leading role in decarbonising the aviation sector. 

Zita Schellekens, Senior Vice President for Group Sustainability at Air France–KLM, underscored the significance of coordinated policy action, noting that Africa possesses both the natural resources and human capacity to take the lead in sustainable aviation. “What’s needed now is alignment, bringing together policy, infrastructure, and innovation to unlock scalable SAF solutions across the continent,” she said. 

Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Allan Kilavuka, highlighted the airline’s commitment to driving regional sustainability. “Africa’s aviation growth must go hand in hand with sustainability,” he said. “Kenya Airways is committed to partnerships that build the foundations of a viable SAF ecosystem, one that benefits our industry, our environment, and our communities.” 

The roundtable outcomes form part of SkyTeam’s global Aviation Challenge, which seeks to accelerate climate action across member airlines. As part of this initiative, Kenya Airways and KLM also unveiled a joint sustainability roadmap outlining clear targets for SAF adoption, pilot projects in Kenya and the Netherlands, and the creation of harmonised policy frameworks to guide regional implementation. 

In addition to advancing policy coordination, the partners announced plans to collaborate with academic institutions and industry experts to build technical capacity for SAF development, certification, and innovation. These efforts aim to equip the next generation of engineers and aviation specialists with the skills needed to sustain Africa’s green aviation transition. 

By combining global expertise with regional collaboration, the Nairobi SAF Roadmap marks a defining step toward Africa’s sustainable aviation future. It positions Kenya as a strategic hub for green aviation policy, innovation, and investment, strengthening the continent’s role in shaping the global sustainability agenda.