Malaysia Airlines Unites Thai Airways, Garuda Indonesia, And Philippine Airlines To Face A New Massive Environmental Ultimatum: Will They Crash Or Conquer The Saf Revolution?

Published on November 6, 2025

Southeast Asia airlines look increasing unit to decarbonize arsenic governments instrumentality sustainable aviation substance (SAF) mandates. Singapore Airlines will lead pinch a 1% SAF request by 2026, scaling to 3–5% by 2030, backed by a SAF levy for procurement. Malaysia Airlines partners pinch FatHopes Energy for SAF accumulation from utilized cooking oil, contributing to net-zero aviation by 2050. Garuda Indonesia aligns pinch Indonesia’s SAF regulations, while Thai Airways adopts national SAF standards. Philippine Airlines, targeting net-zero by 2050, explores SAF usage by 2030. Government blueprints and amendments crossed nan region style these policies, driving fleet modernization, SAF use, and carbon simplification goals. These regulations are portion of a broader location effort to reduce aviation emissions, pinch governments implementing market-based measures to foster green aviation.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) – Singapore

Government requirements

• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) instruction and SAF levy – Singapore’s Ministry of Transport and nan Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) require each flights departing Singapore to usage SAF starting successful 2026 pinch a 1 % SAF target, expanding to 3–5 % by 2030[1]. To instrumentality nan SAF mandate, nan CAAS (Amendment) Bill (Sept 2025) authorises CAAS to cod a SAF levy and centralise procurement; nan levy will supply costs certainty and money a centralised SAF fund[2]. The measure emphasises that a centralised procurement attack will aggregate request and unafraid amended commercialized position for airlines[3].
• Establishment of SAFCo – In Oct 2025, CAAS announced nan creation of Singapore Sustainable Aviation Fuel Company Ltd (SAFCo) to procure SAF and negociate nan SAF levy. SAFCo will aggregate voluntary demand, statement pinch suppliers and thief execute nan 1 % SAF target successful 2026 and 3–5 % by 2030[4]. The institution will support nan improvement of a scalable SAF ecosystem[5].
• Operational and airdrome initiatives – Singapore’s 2024 Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint commits to improving air‑traffic management, deploying energy‑efficient operations astatine Changi Airport, expanding star powerfulness and electrifying each caller airside vehicles by 2025 to execute c neutrality by 2050[1].

Impact connected Singapore Airlines’ policies

• Commitment to net‑zero and fleet modernisation – The SIA Group intends to beryllium net‑zero by 2050. It has a young fleet (average property astir 7 years) consisting of fuel‑efficient Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft, pinch upcoming Boeing 777‑9 and A350F freighters. The fleet modernisation is aligned pinch nan government’s decarbonisation blueprint[6].
• SAF procurement and initiatives – SIA trialled sustainable substance pinch CAAS and GenZero, purchasing 1 000 tonnes of neat SAF that reduced ~2 500 tonnes of CO₂. The proceedings showed voluntary request unsocial is insufficient, starring to nan mandated SAF requirement[7]. SIA’s FY2024/25 sustainability study states nan group purchased 2 000 tonnes of neat SAF and signed an MoU pinch Aether Fuels to research SAF derived from c feedstock; SIA besides joined nan Association of Asia Pacific Airlines promise to switch 5 % of substance depletion pinch SAF by 2030[8][9]. As SAF is integrated via SAFCo, SIA will request to scheme its substance procurement and pricing nether nan government’s levy system.
• Operational ratio and air‑traffic management – The blueprint’s Long Range Air Traffic Flow Management proceedings pinch SIA intends to trim holding times and unnecessary substance burn, pinch implementation planned for 2026[10]. SIA besides implements weight‑reduction measures and optimised formation plans to prevention fuel[6].

Garuda Indonesia – Indonesia

Government initiatives

• Decarbonisation commitment – Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation (Directorate General of Air Transportation) commits to reducing greenhouse‑gas emissions from aviation to support nan Paris Agreement and nan country’s 2060 net‑zero goal. A July 2025 Antara News study (state‑run) states that nan ministry’s programme includes monitoring emissions, encouraging SAF implementation, c offsetting nether CORSIA, improving power ratio of airdrome operations and flights, and ensuring transparent emanation reporting[11].
• Accelerating SAF regulations – An October 2025 Antara article quotes nan ministry’s Director of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations, Sokhib Al Rokhman, saying that Indonesia is strengthening nan SAF roadmap, processing monitoring‑reporting mechanisms and implementing CORSIA standards. With due certification and incentives, nan ministry expects home SAF take to trim emissions without disrupting operations[12].

Implications for Garuda Indonesia

• SAF take and compliance – As nan nationalist emblem carrier, Garuda Indonesia will request to comply pinch nan Ministry of Transportation’s SAF roadmap and nan CORSIA reporting requirements. The government’s attraction connected MRV (monitoring, reporting and verification) and certification suggests that airlines will beryllium required to adopt SAF blends and study emissions, which will style Garuda’s substance procurement and fleet‑planning strategies.
• Operational efficiency – Improvements successful power ratio astatine airports and flights, arsenic outlined by nan ministry, whitethorn require Garuda to put successful newer aircraft, upgrade air‑traffic guidance procedures, and participate successful carbon‑offset programmes. Garuda is besides expected to participate successful stakeholder collaborations to align operations pinch nationalist decarbonisation targets.

Thai Airways – Thailand

Government direction

• Support for SAF and multi‑sector cooperation – A July 2025 article from nan Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) (official website) reports connected nan SEA SAF Forum 2025. CAAT head Air Chief Marshal Manat Chuanpraphrue participated successful a convention connected nan “Role of SAF successful Aviation Transport Decarbonization.” The article highlights Thailand’s committedness to promoting nan improvement and usage of Sustainable Aviation Fuel to trim greenhouse‑gas emissions and emphasises that practice betwixt government, backstage assemblage and academia is needed to thrust a actual transition[13].
• Regional SAF roadmap – According to nan International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), nan Thai Ministry of Energy aimed to finalise guidelines for SAF usage by nan extremity of 2024 and location are planned SAF accumulation accommodation (e.g., Bangchak’s Phra Khanong plant) expected to commencement producing SAF successful 2025[14]. Although this is an intergovernmental report, it shows that Thai authorities recognise SAF arsenic cardinal to decarbonising aviation.

Impact connected Thai Airways

• Policy alignment – Thai Airways, arsenic nan nationalist emblem carrier, is expected to align pinch Thailand’s emerging SAF guidelines and collaborate pinch CAAT and power agencies. Participation successful forums indicates nan government’s anticipation that nan hose will adopt SAF erstwhile home accumulation becomes available.
• Fleet and way optimisation – Thailand’s argumentation situation encourages airlines to amended substance ratio and trim emissions done fleet renewal and optimised operations. Thai Airways will request to incorporated these requirements into its post‑pandemic restructuring, which includes modernising its fleet and exploring partnerships for SAF proviso arsenic home accumulation scales up.

Malaysia Airlines – Malaysia

Government policies

• Malaysia Aviation Decarbonisation Blueprint (MADB) – Launched successful 2024, nan MADB intends for net‑zero aviation emissions by 2050. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia’s Waypoint archive explains that nan blueprint sets 4 strategies: reducing emissions via craft exertion (18 % contribution), operational improvements (5 %), adoption of SAF (46 %), and market‑based measures specified arsenic c offsetting (31 %)[15]. The scheme calls for integrating SAF into nan substance proviso chain, investing successful airdrome infrastructure for next‑generation fuels, electrifying crushed vehicles, improving power ratio and discarded management, and updating biology guidance plans[16].
• Investment successful SAF production – The aforesaid archive notes that Petronas and partners are building a biorefinery successful Johor to nutrient SAF and different biofuels by 2028[17], indicating a nationalist committedness to section SAF production.
• Policy coordination – Implementation involves cross‑ministerial cooperation: nan Ministry of Plantation and Commodities will lead nan nationalist SAF blending mandate, nan Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability will create a nationalist carbon‑market policy, and nan Ministry of Transport chairs a steering committee to show progress[16].

Influence connected Malaysia Airlines’ policies

• Net‑zero committedness and SAF partnerships – Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), genitor of Malaysia Airlines, supports nan MADB. In February 2025, MAG signed an MoU pinch FatHopes Energy to research utilizing used cooking lipid (UCO) arsenic feedstock for SAF. The business intends to cod UCO sustainably and person it to neat SAF, measure scalability and economical feasibility, and build a section SAF ecosystem, supporting Malaysia’s net‑zero aviation ambitions[18]. This inaugural positions Malaysia Airlines to merge home SAF into its operations erstwhile accumulation is available.
• Passenger engagement and c fees – The Waypoint archive mentions that Malaysia Airlines offers passengers nan option to contribute to carbon‑offset and SAF initiatives, while low‑cost bearer AirAsia whitethorn enforce a mandatory c interest to money SAF and different sustainability programs[19]. Such mechanisms bespeak really biology policies power fare structures and customer engagement.
• Fleet ratio and crushed operations – The MADB’s telephone for operational improvements implies that Malaysia Airlines will proceed to modernise its fleet and instrumentality fuel‑efficiency programs. Electrification of crushed vehicles and energy‑efficient airdrome operations whitethorn require investments successful infrastructure astatine its hubs.

Philippine Airlines – Philippines

Government efforts

• Commitment to SAF production – In February 2025, nan Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced plans to partner pinch Boeing to nutrient and usage Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The section said nan Philippines has capable cultivation discarded feedstock to meet its jet‑fuel needs and perchance export SAF. It emphasised that SAF could trim aviation emissions by up to 80 % and that invention and partnerships would create jobs and make nan Philippines a leader successful SAF production[20].
• Global aviation engagement – The Civil Aviation Authority of nan Philippines (CAAP) noted successful December 2023 that Philippine delegations to ICAO’s Third Conference connected Aviation Alternative Fuels aimed to support sustainable aviation substance improvement and that sustainability would beryllium a cardinal taxable astatine nan 59th DGCA conference, which nan Philippines planned to big successful 2024[21].
• State‑run news agency reports – A 2023 Philippine News Agency article reported that Philippine Airlines (PAL) intends to execute net‑zero c emissions by 2050. PAL has a holistic carbon‑reduction programme covering formation and crushed operations, uses renewable power successful its offices, is exploring SAF, and applies fuel‑efficiency measures specified arsenic single‑engine taxiing[22]. Another PNA study from November 2023 quotes a PAL spokesperson stating that nan hose is exploring SAF pinch nan purpose of utilizing it by 2030; nan hose is moving pinch stakeholders to make SAF much affordable and available[23].

Effects connected Philippine Airlines’ policies

• Net‑zero target and carbon‑reduction programme – PAL’s net‑zero committedness aligns pinch DOTr’s ambition to make nan Philippines a leader successful SAF production. PAL has begun renewable power usage successful its offices and adopted fuel‑efficiency initiatives (single‑engine taxiing, reduced acceleration altitude)[22].
• SAF exploration and timelines – PAL’s scheme to commencement utilizing SAF by 2030 supports nan government’s strategy to create section SAF production. The DOTr–Boeing business indicates that feedstock readiness and private‑public collaboration will thief accelerate SAF use[20].
• International collaboration – Participation successful ICAO’s alternative‑fuels conferences and nan DGCA gathering underscores nan Philippines’ committedness to aligning its policies pinch world decarbonisation goals. PAL will request to comply pinch early SAF mandates and carbon‑offset schemes resulting from these engagements.

Conclusion

In 2024‑2025, Southeast Asian governments intensified efforts to decarbonise aviation. Singapore legislated a SAF instruction and levy, established a cardinal procurement company, and required improvements successful air‑traffic guidance and airdrome operations. Indonesia’s proscription ministry accelerated SAF regulations and emphasised CORSIA compliance. Thailand promoted SAF take done regulatory guidance and multi‑sector cooperation, while Malaysia launched a broad decarbonisation blueprint prioritising SAF and invested successful home bio‑refineries. The Philippines pursued SAF partnerships and planned to harness cultivation discarded for fuel, while emphasising net‑zero targets and world collaboration.

These policies straight power hose strategies. Singapore Airlines must procure SAF done nan caller levy and centralised system, put successful fleet modernisation and participate successful operational ratio trials. Garuda Indonesia will request to comply pinch SAF roadmaps and reporting requirements. Thai Airways must hole for SAF take and optimize operations arsenic nationalist guidelines solidify. Malaysia Airlines is exploring used‑cooking‑oil‑based SAF and offering passengers carbon‑offset options, aligning pinch nan government’s blueprint. Philippine Airlines pursues a net‑zero target by 2050, exploring SAF pinch a 2030 timeline and engaging successful government‑led partnerships. Together, these actions exemplify really biology effect and carbon‑emission concerns are reshaping hose policies crossed Southeast Asia.