Guest opinion article by Montserrat Barriga, Director General, European Regions Airline Association (ERA)
Brussels has a bold new plan to clean up Europe’s skies: the ReFuelEU Regulation. Its goal, making aviation greener, is admirable. But the way it’s being implemented could unintentionally harm the very airlines that keep Europe’s most remote communities connected. A one-size-fits-all approach to sustainability comes at a heavy price, paid by regional carriers and the people who rely on them.
On the Danish island of Bornholm, the daily flight to Copenhagen is more than a convenience, it’s a lifeline. Patients, medical staff, vital supplies and businesses all depend on it. For many residents, air travel is the only practical link to the rest of Denmark and Europe. Without it, the island would feel cut off.
Yet it’s precisely connections like this that may come under pressure as Europe reshapes aviation. ReFuelEU, part of the Fit for 55 package, sets ambitious targets for sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). From 2025, suppliers must blend at least 2% SAF into jet fuel, rising to 70% by 2050.
While the aim is well-intentioned, the real-world consequences are complex, particularly for small regional airlines serving communities like Bornholm.
Regional airline leaders are already feeling the impact. Invoices landing on their desks include unexplained ‘SAF mandate fees’, causing monthly bills to rise sharply with no clarity on the extra charges. Unlike larger carriers, regional airlines can’t absorb these charges without putting vital connections at risk. Each additional cost isn’t just a line item, it’s a potential threat to the communities these essential routes serve.
Perhaps most frustrating though is that access to SAF is uneven. With volumes averaged at a national level, carriers serving regional areas often face an extra fee, billed for SAF even where none is available. How can airlines be charged for a product that doesn’t exist?
The rule in Article 5 or what is commonly known as the ‘anti-tankering rule’ is another textbook case of a good idea gone wrong. Intended to stop airlines from carrying excess fuel, it now creates new challenges for regional carriers. The rule forces airlines to carry at least 90% of the yearly fuel needed at a given Union Airport (that’s EU airports handling more than 800,000 passengers or 100,000 tonnes of cargo per year). On paper, there are exemptions, such as excluding those in the outermost regions, routes under 850km, or 1,200km for remote islands, but they aren’t automatic. Instead, carriers face a mountain of paperwork, even on routes where the emissions savings are negligible. For airlines operating a mix of short routes near these thresholds, the uncertainty only adds to the burden.
In fact, in many instances the paperwork only piles on. With duplicated reports, endless proof-of-compliance checks, and no harmonised system, SAF compliance is turning into a costly administrative process.
These aren’t minor inconveniences. Regional airlines carry approximately more than 65 million passengers each year, underpin local economies, and keep remote communities connected. Rules that aren’t applied carefully could tip the playing field, leaving some regions at a disadvantage.
Back on Bornholm, the stakes are visible every day. A regulatory hurdle could mean a doctor unable to reach patients, a business trip impossible to make, or a resident cut off from the mainland. Each challenge, whether rising costs, complex paperwork, or patchy SAF availability, threatens these vital connections.
Transparency is the starting point. Fuel suppliers must justify SAF-related costs and ensure fees reflect actual supply and production expenses. Airlines should not be billed for fuel that doesn’t exist.
But this isn’t enough alone. Regional airlines are already feeling the strain from a patchy roll-out of ReFuelEU Aviation. Without proper oversight, SAF risks becoming scarce, overpriced and unfairly distributed. The EU needs strong checks on supply, pricing and access.
And let’s be clear: compliance processes must remain simple and practical. Proof-of-compliance systems should be harmonised, simple and affordable. The same applies to anti-tankering rules. Exceptions for short and low-frequency routes should be automatic, not buried under red tape.
This is not about seeking exemptions; it’s about ensuring the rules reflect operational realities. Regional airlines don’t want a free pass; they want a fair shot at delivering on Europe’s climate goals without cutting off the very communities that need them most.
Sustainability and connectivity can go hand in hand. With careful adjustment and open dialogue, the EU can ensure the path to greener skies remains accessible to all, without leaving its smallest carriers and most remote regions behind.