- Germany has drafted legislation fining airlines €1,332 per metric ton for SAF blending breaches
- Additional fines of up to €50,000 apply for reporting and notification violations
- EU rules require airlines to uplift at least 90 pc of required fuel at departure airports
- The Federal Aviation Office oversees enforcement of the regulation
- The measures aim to reduce emissions from fuel tankering practices
Germany has been drafting legislation to implement the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, and this legislation includes fines for airlines that engage in excessive fuel tankering and fail to meet mandatory sustainable aviation fuel blending quotas. The draft legislation proposes fines of €1,332 per metric ton for breaches of the SAF blending requirements. The Federal Aviation Office oversees enforcement and could impose additional fines of up to €50,000 for breaches of reporting and notification requirements.
EU rules require airlines to uplift at least 90 pc of their required fuel at the departure airport to discourage tankering, the practice of carrying extra fuel from another airport to avoid refuelling, which increases aircraft weight and emissions. The German measures represent one of the most stringent enforcement regimes among EU member states. The LBA has been tasked with monitoring compliance and levying penalties where operators fail to meet the prescribed standards.
The draft legislation forms part of Germany’s broader strategy to reduce aviation emissions and support the development of the sustainable aviation fuel market. Airlines operating from German airports must now adjust their fuel planning processes to ensure compliance with the 90 pc uplift requirement. The fines are designed to ensure that the environmental benefits of the ReFuelEU regulation are realised through operational changes at individual airline level.
German Federal Aviation Office shared in a written statement:: “The LBA oversees enforcement of the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation and imposes fines for breaches of reporting and notification requirements.”
