China launches first SAF compliance service for foreign business jets - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

China has introduced its first Sustainable Aviation Fuel compliance service specifically designed for foreign-registered business jets. The new model was implemented at Beijing Capital International Airport by business aviation provider Sino Jet in cooperation with China National Aviation Fuel Co., Ltd., known as China Aviation Fuel.

The initiative extends China's developing SAF infrastructure beyond scheduled passenger and cargo aviation into international business aviation. It is intended to give foreign-registered aircraft operating in China a standardized way to use and account for SAF-related emissions reductions while avoiding the need for changes to existing airport refuelling procedures.

SAF access expands to international business aviation

Until now, SAF services in China have focused primarily on commercial passenger and cargo operations. Business aviation presents different challenges because aircraft operate more flexibly, often across multiple jurisdictions and airports, while many international operators use foreign-registered aircraft.

Sino Jet operates and manages numerous such aircraft and provides operational support in China for international business aviation clients. The company has operational bases in more than 20 cities worldwide and says it has already achieved carbon neutrality in its own operations. Its longer-term target is carbon neutrality across its entire managed fleet by 2035.

The new arrangement is designed to close a gap between these international operations and China's emerging SAF system.

Model does not require changes to airport refuelling

A central feature of the scheme is that airports do not need to modify their existing physical fuel infrastructure or refuelling procedures. Instead, the model allows SAF emissions-reduction benefits to be attributed and transferred within a compliant framework.

According to the companies, this should reduce practical barriers for foreign business jet operators, simplify SAF-related procedures and make the system replicable beyond an individual aircraft or flight.

For the business aviation sector, this distinction is significant. Physical availability of SAF at every airport remains one of the obstacles to wider adoption, particularly for aircraft whose routes can change at short notice.

China Aviation Fuel extends existing SAF system

The project is the first application of China Aviation Fuel's SAF service model to international business aviation. The company had previously established routine SAF services for conventional passenger and cargo flights.

Du Chao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of China Aviation Fuel, described the project as a demonstration of the company's approach to “driving the development of green civil aviation through service model innovation.”

He said the initiative could serve as an example for the low-carbon transformation of business aviation. China Aviation Fuel intends to further develop its long-term operating mechanisms and expand green services available to the sector.

Sino Jet plans broader SAF applications

For Sino Jet, the cooperation creates a dedicated route for foreign-registered business jets to participate in China's SAF system.

Chris Wu, President of Sino Jet, said the project had established “a dedicated channel for the compliant application of SAF by foreign-registered business jets in China” and addressed a longstanding gap in green services for the sector.

The company plans to expand the circumstances in which SAF can be used and deepen its cooperation with China Aviation Fuel. Sino Jet sees the initiative as part of China's wider strategy to reduce carbon emissions from civil aviation.

Business aviation becomes part of China's SAF transition

The two partners now intend to promote wider and more standardized SAF use among foreign-registered business aircraft. Their plans include additional carbon-neutral flight services and further integration of business aviation into China's sustainable aviation fuel system.

While the first implementation took place at Beijing Capital International Airport, the underlying model is designed to be scalable. If adopted more broadly, it could give international business jet operators a more practical route to account for SAF use when flying in China without depending solely on physical SAF availability at every airport they visit.

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