Arabian Gulf Business Insight
Gavin Gibbon
19 November 2025
Passengers will ultimately determine whether the aviation industry can afford to go green, Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said this week, suggesting higher fares might result from environmentally friendlier fuel.
“If you want a certain product, then you have to pay for it,” he said at the Dubai Airshow when asked whether travellers would be willing to shoulder higher fares tied to sustainable energy. “I’m sorry to say that, but that’s the way it is.”
The airline chief’s comments cast doubt on the pace of global efforts to scale up sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Emirates supports the industry-wide commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 under the frameworks set by the International Air Transport Association (Iata) and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Cost remains another barrier. Airlines consumed all available SAF in 2024 at an average price of $2,350 a tonne, more than triple the cost of conventional jet fuel, adding roughly $1.6 billion to global fuel expenses.
Emirates chief: Passengers will decide if flying green is worth cost | AGBI | 19 Nov 2025
