The government has notified an amendment to the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001 (ATF Control Order) vide notification dated April 17, 2026. The amendment has been issued as an administrative measure to bring ATF blended with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) under the ambit of the ATF Control Order.
The SAF consists of specially processed aviation grade hydrocarbons that are chemically similar to ATF and fully compatible with aircraft engines. SAF does not alter the fundamental nature, safety, or performance of aviation fuel. Inclusion of SAF for aviation use undergoes International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recognised rigorous testing process for aviation engines as per ASTM International and only after such extensive procedure, SAF is accepted for use in aviation, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) has said.
As recognised by ICAO, SAF is a renewable fuel derived from alternative feedstocks such as crops, biogenic residues, and waste materials, offering significant reductions in GHG emissions. ICAO is implementing the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) to control emissions from international flights.
