Best of 2025: The ideas that defined aviation’s climate debate

Dec 25, 2025

In a year-end review, industry leaders share insights on sustainable aviation in 2025. Heathrow's Matt Gorman reveals how landing charges drive Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption, while Vancouver aims for net-zero by 2030. Swedavia boasts fossil-free operations, highlighting Sweden's SAF incentives. Aaron Robinson discusses cultural barriers to SAF uptake, and Matthew Ridley presents a $150 million fund for next-gen SAF technologies. Innovative solutions include biogas-to-SAF conversion and modular e-fuels, while discussions on electric aircraft hint at new operational capabilities.

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INSIGHT

Airports Control Very Little Direct Emissions

Heathrow directly controls only 0.1% of its total carbon footprint through scope 1 emissions.
The airport uses landing charges to influence the remaining 99.9% it does not control.

ADVICE

Use Pricing To Incentivize SAF Uplift

Use pricing levers to create demand for SAF by redistributing costs and rewarding uplift.
Heathrow's landing-charge pot has been oversubscribed each year, proving the incentive works.

ANECDOTE

Sweden's Airports Made Fossil-Free A Priority

Swedavia achieved fossil-free airport operations in 2020 driven by committed CEOs and social pressure in Sweden.
Sweden now pays 50% of the SAF premium for airlines that uplift at their airports.

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In this special year-end episode, we explore conversations with industry leaders revealing where sustainable aviation truly stands in 2025.

Matt Gorman, Director of Carbon Strategy at Heathrow Airport, reveals airports control just 0.1% of their carbon footprint directly but use landing charges to incentivise SAF adoption.
Tamara Vrooman, CEO of Vancouver Airport, explains moving their net-zero target forward to 2030 by leveraging control of central infrastructure.
Lena Wennberg, Chief Sustainable Development Officer, and Therese Forsström, Head of Environmental Department at Swedavia, explain achieving fossil-free operations in 2020 and how they are looking to support fossil-free domestic flights in Sweden by 2030.
Aaron Robinson, Vice President of SAF at International Airlines Group, identifies airlines’ reluctance to adopt SAF as a cultural problem rooted in safety-first mindsets that resist innovation.
Matthew Ridley, Director of Sustainability at The oneworld Alliance, discusses their $150 million fund with Breakthrough Energy Ventures for next-generation SAF.
Trevor Best, CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics, details their photocatalytic technology converting biogas into SAF at smaller scales, targeting jet fuel parity.
Tim Boeltken of INERATEC explains their modular e-fuel technology deployable wherever green hydrogen is produced.
Marc Allen, CEO of Electra, describes how electric aircraft will succeed by enabling new capabilities like 150-foot takeoffs rather than competing with jet fuel.
Billy Thalheimer of Regent introduces Seagliders – wing-in-ground effect vehicles offering new transportation for coastal routes.
Jolanda Stevens, Program Manager for Zero Emission Aviation at KLM, emphasises airlines’ responsibility in enabling hydrogen and electric aircraft.
Luke Farajallah, CEO of Loganair, discusses how their mandatory £1 carbon levy receives almost no passenger complaints.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love all the conversations we had through the year with dozens of industry executives, technology leaders and scientists. Check out the archive 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: Volume 2’. Click here to learn more.

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

Links & More:

Book: Sustainability in the Air, Vol Two - SimpliFlying

Sustainable Aviation Outlook Report 2025 - SimpliFlying