Sustainability In The Air

How Heathrow’s SAF incentive aims to tackle critical barriers to adoption

Jan 23, 2025

Matthew Gorman, Director of Carbon Strategy and Sustainability at Heathrow Airport, shares insights from over 15 years of leading sustainability initiatives. He discusses Heathrow's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) incentive scheme, which supports airlines in adopting SAF and aims for a 3% target by next year. Gorman breaks down the airport's carbon footprint and highlights ambitious NOx emissions reduction goals. He also delves into the future of hydrogen aviation and the balance between environmental responsibility and maintaining global connectivity.

48:56

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Matthew Gorman

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Quick takeaways

Heathrow Airport's SAF incentive program utilizes increased landing charges to support airlines in transitioning to more sustainable fuel options.

The airport aims for significant emission reductions by 2030 while balancing connectivity needs with climate commitments and innovative fuel solutions.

Deep dives

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Incentives

A significant focus is placed on the introduction of a landing fee incentive aimed at promoting the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Heathrow. This initiative was designed to create a financial pot from increased landing charges, allowing airlines to bid for rebates based on their usage of SAF. Since its inception, the program has seen oversubscription each year, signaling strong interest from airlines to participate. This incentive structure aims to lower the cost gap between conventional aviation fuel and SAF, thus encouraging more sustainable practices within the aviation industry.

Intro

5min

Navigating Sustainable Aviation: Challenges and Innovations

24min

Tackling Air Quality: Emission Reduction Strategies at an Urban Airport

2min

Navigating Sustainable Aviation at Heathrow

13min

Personal Favorites Unveiled in Rapid Fire Round

2min

Balancing Family, Hobbies, and the Pursuit of Passion

1min

Celebrating Success in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Adoption

2min

In this episode, we speak with Matthew Gorman, Director of Carbon Strategy and Sustainability at Heathrow Airport.

With 16 years at the helm of Heathrow's sustainability initiatives, Gorman shares how one of the world’s busiest airports is tackling aviation’s climate impact while maintaining its crucial role in global connectivity.

Gorman discusses:

Heathrow’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) incentive scheme, which creates a funding pool through landing charges to help airlines bridge the cost gap of SAF adoption. Starting at 0.5% in 2022, the target will reach 3% by next year, with approximately 20 airlines participating.
The breakdown of Heathrow’s carbon footprint, highlighting that nearly 95% comes from aircraft operations, around 5% from ground activities such as surface access and the supply chain, and just 0.1% from direct operations (Scope 1).
The future of hydrogen aviation, with expectations of first hydrogen-powered services in the early 2030s starting with turboprops, and how Heathrow is preparing infrastructure through research partnerships and dedicated testing facilities.
Their innovative approach to NOx emissions reduction, targeting 18% reduction in airside operations and 60% in non-aircraft operations by 2030, driven by Heathrow’s proximity to London.

Throughout the conversation, Gorman emphasises the critical balance between maintaining aviation’s connectivity benefits while achieving net zero, and how airports can lead the sector’s sustainability transition through influence and advocacy despite controlling only a small fraction of total emissions.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Christina Cassotis, CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport, who shares her ambitious vision for transforming the airport into a sustainable aviation hub. Check it out 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’. 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:

Heathrow 2.0 Sustainability Strategy

Heathrow Airport targets 3% SAF use in 2025 - Biodiesel Magazine

Heathrow launches ‘Nature Positive Plan’ to tackle biodiversity loss - edie

Four of UK's biggest airports pledge to ‘Back British SAF’ - Aerospace Global News