European Aviation Daily: Icarus – 09 June 2026

Research evidence excerpt

European Aviation Daily: Icarus – 09 June 2026

ed out to long haul flights is attracting considerable media

attention. We see very low chances of this happening. In 2012 when the ETS was initially

launched the Eu tries to apply the ETS to flying to and from the EU. The move was overturned

following firm opposition form third countries including the US and China. At the risk of

understatement, we think opposition from the US today will be even firmer than in 2012. We do

not see ETS extension happening.

KLM operates first commercial flight using eSAF

airliners.de (8 June) reports that KLM has operated a commercial Amsterdam-Hamburg flight

using eSAF produced at the Frankfurt-Höchst industrial park. The flight is being presented as a

proof point for power-to-liquid aviation fuel, but the report says it also highlights the difficulty

of scaling eSAF production to commercially meaningful volumes.

The story follows IATA’s warning that eSAF output remains far below mandated levels. EU and

UK rules point to substantial eSAF requirements by 2030, but current operating and under-

construction global capacity remains very limited. KLM’s flight is therefore operationally small

but symbolically important for the SAF and e-fuels pathway. Ironically as airlines push hard to

roll back 2030 e SAF manadates, this flight demonstration is probably unhelpful to their own

lobbying position.

WestJet criticises Canadian airline loan plan

Aviacionline reports on WestJet’s criticism of the Canadian government’s plan to offer targeted

support to airlines facing higher fuel costs. The Canadian government has launched a loan

programme offering eligible airlines up to C$150mn in repayable liquidity support, with

conditions including restrictions on executive compensation and maintaining domestic