Best of 2025: The ideas that defined aviation’s climate debate

Dec 25, 2025

In a year-end review, industry leaders share insights on sustainable aviation in 2025. Heathrow's Matt Gorman reveals how landing charges drive Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption, while Vancouver aims for net-zero by 2030. Swedavia boasts fossil-free operations, highlighting Sweden's SAF incentives. Aaron Robinson discusses cultural barriers to SAF uptake, and Matthew Ridley presents a $150 million fund for next-gen SAF technologies. Innovative solutions include biogas-to-SAF conversion and modular e-fuels, while discussions on electric aircraft hint at new operational capabilities.

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ADVICE

Set Earlier Targets With Concrete Roadmaps

Start with a detailed roadmap and accelerate targets if the pathway is clear.
Vancouver Airport moved its net-zero target from 2040 to 2030 after mapping practical steps.

INSIGHT

Safety Culture Slows Airline Innovation

Airlines' safety-first cultures create resistance to being the first mover on new technologies like SAF.
This cultural risk aversion produces a collective action problem where many wait for others to act.

ADVICE

Pool Investment To De-Risk SAF Deep Tech

Pool resources across airlines to invest in next-generation SAF and hire specialist expertise.
Oneworld's $150m fund with Breakthrough Energy centralizes knowledge and dealflow for deep-tech SAF.

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In this special year-end episode, we explore conversations with industry leaders revealing where sustainable aviation truly stands in 2025.

Matt Gorman, Director of Carbon Strategy at Heathrow Airport, reveals airports control just 0.1% of their carbon footprint directly but use landing charges to incentivise SAF adoption.
Tamara Vrooman, CEO of Vancouver Airport, explains moving their net-zero target forward to 2030 by leveraging control of central infrastructure.
Lena Wennberg, Chief Sustainable Development Officer, and Therese Forsström, Head of Environmental Department at Swedavia, explain achieving fossil-free operations in 2020 and how they are looking to support fossil-free domestic flights in Sweden by 2030.
Aaron Robinson, Vice President of SAF at International Airlines Group, identifies airlines’ reluctance to adopt SAF as a cultural problem rooted in safety-first mindsets that resist innovation.
Matthew Ridley, Director of Sustainability at The oneworld Alliance, discusses their $150 million fund with Breakthrough Energy Ventures for next-generation SAF.
Trevor Best, CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics, details their photocatalytic technology converting biogas into SAF at smaller scales, targeting jet fuel parity.
Tim Boeltken of INERATEC explains their modular e-fuel technology deployable wherever green hydrogen is produced.
Marc Allen, CEO of Electra, describes how electric aircraft will succeed by enabling new capabilities like 150-foot takeoffs rather than competing with jet fuel.
Billy Thalheimer of Regent introduces Seagliders – wing-in-ground effect vehicles offering new transportation for coastal routes.
Jolanda Stevens, Program Manager for Zero Emission Aviation at KLM, emphasises airlines’ responsibility in enabling hydrogen and electric aircraft.
Luke Farajallah, CEO of Loganair, discusses how their mandatory £1 carbon levy receives almost no passenger complaints.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love all the conversations we had through the year with dozens of industry executives, technology leaders and scientists. Check out the archive here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air: Volume 2’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Book: Sustainability in the Air, Vol Two - SimpliFlying

Sustainable Aviation Outlook Report 2025 - SimpliFlying