New Delhi, India: Boeing and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) have launched a comprehensive report assessing India’s readiness to adopt Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with the assessment placing the country’s overall SAF readiness at 52%.
The report describes India’s readiness as “moderate but advancing” as the country moves from early-stage SAF development towards wider adoption. Boeing said the assessment provides an “evidence-based roadmap” for India’s next phase of SAF development and examines both existing strengths and opportunities as aviation demand continues to grow.
The RSB developed the assessment using a methodology covering nine dimensions of SAF readiness: feedstock, production capacity, policy and regulation, supply chains and logistics, market demand, investment and financing, research and development, technology readiness, and enabling infrastructure and services.
India has set SAF blending targets of 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030. The country is also committed to participating in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) from 2027.
Under a 5% SAF blending scenario in 2030, the report projects combined SAF demand for domestic and international aviation at approximately 720 million litres, equivalent to about 0.6 million tonnes per year. This compares with an estimated Indian SAF production potential of 14–33 million tonnes per year.
The report indicates that India’s SAF opportunity will depend not only on its potential production capacity but also on the coordinated development of the wider ecosystem required to support SAF adoption.
“India has an important role in enabling sustainable aviation – and pursuing a deliberate and well-researched path to SAF adoption is key,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India & South Asia.
“This report is valuable because it confirms exactly where India has the foundational capacity to enable SAF adoption and because it identifies specific opportunities ahead,” Gupte added.
Boeing said it is committed to supporting airline customers and policymakers in India and globally in achieving emissions-reduction goals by helping build a robust SAF ecosystem.
RSB Executive Director Bettina Paschke said, “India’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel opportunity is substantial. This assessment gives stakeholders a common evidence base from which to act, and RSB looks forward to continuing to convene and support the collaboration needed to translate India’s potential into sustainable impact.”
The report also highlights the need for coordinated action and collaboration among government, industry, financiers and other stakeholders to support the development of India’s SAF market.
Boeing said its India operations are focused on delivering value to Indian customers through advanced technologies while creating sustainable value in the country’s aerospace sector. The company said it is developing local suppliers and supporting academic and research collaborations with Indian institutions.
Boeing said it has strengthened its Indian supply chain through partnerships with more than 375 local companies. Its India footprint also includes a joint venture manufacturing fuselages for Apache helicopters and vertical fin structures for the 737 family of airplanes.
The company said annual sourcing from India is now more than $1.4 billion. Boeing currently employs close to 7,000 people in India, while more than 33,000 people work with its supply-chain partners.
Boeing also said its employees’ efforts and country-wide engagement through community and citizenship programmes reach more than 4.8 million direct and indirect beneficiaries.
The SAF assessment was released by Boeing and RSB on 29 September 2026 as India works towards its 2027, 2028 and 2030 SAF blending targets.
