The case for air freight by Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Manager Alexandra Herdman

This means that the industry is determined to focus on improving efficiency and finding new collaborations which enable it to reduce its emissions, as the global economy relies so heavily on its success.

Logistics UK shines a light on how the sector is addressing its net zero objectives and why aviation plays a unique and pivotal role in the supply chain.

The background: Government puts green aviation into focus after introducing additional measures to back SAF production  

The government introduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill to Parliament on 14 May 2025, which enables the implementation of a revenue certainty mechanism to support Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production in the UK, and is providing an additional £400,000 of funding for producers.

These measures sit alongside the requirements under the SAF Mandate, introduced in January this year, which specifies that at least 10% of all jet fuel used in flights taking off from the UK from 2030 should be made with sustainable fuel, rising to 22% by 2040.

Welcome to The Green Miles magazine, Alexandra – how important is the introduction of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)? 

“Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as a drop-in fuel, is a vital alternative to traditional kerosene jet fuel, reducing aviation lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%. With no zero-emission alternative currently viable for long haul flight, SAF is the most significant opportunity to reduce aviation emissions in the medium term.

“SAF reduces carbon emissions but also lowers other harmful pollutants, such as particulate matter and sulphur oxides, contributing to better air quality around airports and reducing the aviation sector’s overall environmental impact.

“By integrating SAF into the fuel supply chain, and adopting higher SAF blends, the aviation industry can make significant progress towards achieving international climate targets and support the UK’s commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

“Producing SAF domestically in the UK carries several economic and strategic advantages. First and foremost, producing SAF in the UK will increase availability, addressing a key concern around security of supplies, as well as helping to reduce overall costs as the industry is scaled up. It will also create jobs.”

How does air freight fit into the broader logistics landscape?  

“Air freight is pivotal. Without air freight we wouldn’t be able to export a lot of the goods that we produce to places like China and the US. Commodities like Scottish salmon, which is the biggest food export produced in the UK wouldn’t be able to enter distant markets without air freight.

“Air freight is an enabler of trade that is supported by the logistics network. Most air freight is moved primarily to the airport by road, so we need good infrastructure. A lot of these goods are time sensitive, so any problems with the surrounding infrastructure and hinterland, whether that’s road or rail, is going to have an impact.”

Air freight is often seen as less environment friendly. How do logistics companies address that?  

“Companies are already investing hugely in SAF. The real onus here is on government increasing domestic supply and production of SAF. It needs to be made available in abundance and the price brought down because it is much more expensive to use.

“SAF is similar to HVO in that it is a biofuel. It’s what we call a drop-in fuel, so it can be used in existing aircraft and refuelling systems without needing modifications to existing infrastructure.

“In terms of net zero aviation by 2050, we are still going to be relying on things like emissions trading, carbon capture and storage because net zero emissions from aviation are so difficult to achieve.”

Are the airlines legally obliged to use SAF or is it simply available to those who can afford it?  

“The SAF mandate is on the fuel manufacturers to produce a certain amount as opposed to businesses to buy it. Currently, we are seeing operators such as DHL and UPS are buying a lot of SAF. As with road logistics, the big names are going to be leading the way on this. The hope is that this will have a trickle-down effect in the future when it brings down the price for everybody else to be able to use it.

“Airspace modernisation has a role to play also, for example route optimisation, and making sure that the way planes are flying is using energy as economically as possible. New aircraft designs is also important because they are building aircraft which are more fuel efficient.

What sort of trends do you see in the future of our freight?  

“It’s about collaboration and different international communities doing the same thing. It’s about having SAF available at both ends for refuelling. It’s also about net zero ground handling and net zero airports. These things are coming into play, but it’s about having what’s available at one end, available at the other, so it’s important that everybody is moving in the same direction no matter where you are.”

Fresh produce clearly needs to be moved by air, what other products specifically benefit?  

” All types of goods and items are moved by air freight, but a predominant product is express mail which is a huge part of aviation freight. Valuable goods like gold need to be transported by air. Also, things that aren’t necessarily valuable, but are critical to production lines, all need air freight services.

“It could be something going from country A to B which is needed for a production line, without which a company could face thousands if not millions in losses. Cars, vehicles, engines, machinery – they all need to be moved quickly and that is what air freight delivers – speed and reliability. Pharmaceuticals are reliant on air freight to get to destinations as swiftly as possible.”

So what are the primary advantages of air freight compared to sea and ground transportation?  

“Aviation has proved to be something that you can turn to when other modes have failed. If we look at the Red Sea as an example, whilst some vessels have been able to reroute (which takes longer and costs more), some other lines have been inaccessible, so an alternative is required and that is where air freight comes in.

“During the rush and peak periods, whether it’s Christmas or Chinese New Year – businesses turn to air freight because it’s the best way to get goods quickly. When the US tariffs were announced, many businesses were chartering flights to get their goods into the US before the tariff deadline.

“A lot of people don’t realise that without air freight in the belly holds of aeroplanes, many passenger flights wouldn’t actually be viable because they would not make any money.”

How does air freight facilitate global trade and market expansion for businesses? 

“The fact that you can get a product from, say, the Scottish islands to China, South America or Australia the next day demonstrates just how much air freight benefits the global economy.

“New airports are moving into freight, including smaller airports like Bournemouth and Cardiff. These city regions see freight as an additional way to boost their local economy. As the UK is an island nation it’s vital that we have these connections. 90% of our goods are moved by water but 40% by value goes through an airport.

“Heathrow is an important hub that moves a lot of our goods and services, but  regional airports also have an important role. Without these air freight systems, some British businesses just would not be able to operate.

“A recent report by AICES stated that express services are essential to doing business in the UK and essential to UK international competitiveness, with 93% of businesses surveyed saying that express services were very important or important to their competitiveness.

“89% said that was because of speed and 62% valued reliability as integral to their own reputation.

“Currently, air freight services contribute £7.2 billion to the UK economy every year, representing 49% of non-EU exports by value and 35% of non-EU imports. So that comes to 40% of total trade by value. But it’s only 1% by volume. The value is the important thing.”

Can you explain what the night flight regime is?  

“The night flight regime applies to Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. It has been in force for decades, and since 1993, the regime has limited the number of movements that can take place overnight. There are also limits on the amount of noise that airports are allowed to produce during this period – known as the night quota period. It’s a combination of how many aircraft movements can take place plus how much noise they can make – their QC limit.

“Logistics UK is fully understanding of the night flight regime, but we support what is called the balanced approach which is about the perceived benefits versus the perceived negatives. There was a DfT consultation last year about the night flight regime. That was rolled over for another three years. DfT is undertaking a study on aviation noise. We are advocating for DfT to also review the perceived positive benefits of night flights such as employment and economic impacts.”