FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, July 21, 2026 /CNW/ — Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)* could become a major driver of Canada’s industrial and economic growth, while contributing to the global aerospace industry’s aspirational goal to achieve ‘net-zero carbon emissions by 2050’, as set out by ATAG, IATA, and ICAO, according to a macroeconomic study conducted by Airbus and ICF, unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow. The study outlines the requirements for SAF to meet 40% of Canada’s aviation fuel demand by 2040, quantifying both the policy support required and the resulting economic opportunities for Canada.

Between 2026 and 2040, the development of a Canadian SAF value chain could generate an estimated $32 billion contribution to the country’s GDP. This growth would be accompanied by the creation of 140,000 jobs between 2026 and 2040 across the value chain, representing nearly one quarter of the current direct workforce in the oil and gas sector. Moreover, it would generate nearly $890 million per year in net disposable income for these Canadian households. These benefits would be felt across the country, from agricultural and forestry regions to major urban centres, contributing to economic diversification and the vitality of local communities.

The lifecycle carbon emissions reductions** enabled by SAF adoption could generate an additional estimated societal value of $19 billion through avoided carbon costs, based on the Government of Canada’s methodology. The Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) has been adopted by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to measure the additional economic impacts*** of an incremental increase in carbon emissions.

In a context where a significant share of  fuel consumed in Canada is imported, developing a domestic SAF value chain is also a matter of energy sovereignty and economic resilience. Domestic production would help reduce reliance on foreign markets and mitigate exposure to geopolitical fluctuations.

Without an increase in domestic capacity, Canada’s reliance on biofuel imports could exceed 65% by 2030 to meet projected demand of 8.5 billion litres. This broader vulnerability would heighten energy security risks for the  sector, which already relies on foreign suppliers for approximately 35% of its conventional aviation fuel.

This opportunity comes at a time when the international landscape is evolving rapidly. As incentive policies, particularly in the United States, are already accelerating investment and resource mobilization, Canada also has significant assets that could position it among the leaders in this industry, including abundant natural resources, industrial expertise and recognized leadership in the aerospace sector.

Airbus reaffirms its commitment to accelerating the development of a viable, accessible and affordable SAF market to help reduce the aviation sector’s reliance on fossil fuels. The company is positioning itself as a catalyst within the ecosystem by fostering industrial partnerships, supporting SAF deployment in its own operations and helping mobilize stakeholders across the value chain.

Airbus looks forward to continuing its constructive collaboration with government partners, alongside the Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (C-SAF). Predictable and complementary incentives will be critical to attracting investment and enabling the development of a competitive and viable SAF value chain over the long term. By aligning these industry initiatives with supportive public policy, Airbus aims to contribute domestic SAF production, ensure the availability of renewable fuels for the Canadian aerospace industry, and preserve the affordability of air travel.

Consult the full report on our website.

@Airbus #SAF #Canada #FIA2026

*Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a synthetic fuel. In order to be considered sustainable, it must be made from renewable sources or feedstocks, which could include used cooking oils, fats, plant oils, or municipal, agricultural and forestry waste. It must also meet a set of stringent sustainability requirements (covering the full chain of custody) including regulations set by ICAO’s CORSIA scheme or the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED). These requirements include food security, water management and human rights considerations. For example, SAF certification bodies independently verify that feedstocks for SAF do not divert resources needed for food production. For more information visit our website.

**While SAF and conventional kerosene emit the same amount of CO2 during flight, SAF can reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel depending on the pathway used.

*** Impacts include, but are not limited to, changes in economic productivity, increased property damage from extreme weather events like floods, hurricanes, and forest fires, reduced ecosystem services and impacts on human health.

MIRABEL, QC, July 16, 2026 /CNW/ — Ahead of the Farnborough International Airshow, the largest aerospace event of the year, Airbus presents its first comprehensive economic analysis of its activities in the country, conducted by PwC Canada. Airbus’ business units in Canada have grown considerably over the last four decades. Today, they significantly contribute to the Canadian economy and have generated $8.4B in GDP (measured in 2025 Canadian dollars) from 2023 to 2025, supporting nearly 60,000 job-years or around 20,000 average annual jobs.

In 2025, Airbus spent over $2.2B for its various activities and operations in Canada – 70% for Canadian dual-use suppliers active in both civil and military applications. This supplier base helps maintain industrial and technological capabilities in Canada, in a context where supply chain resilience is a strategic issue. Airbus now supports a network of around 1,000 suppliers – over half of them being small and medium-sized companies – in Canada, which ranks seventh among Airbus’ key supplier countries.

“Today, Canada is where Airbus has the most significant presence outside Europe with all its business units – Defence and Space, Helicopters and Commercial Aircraft being present”, says Guillaume Chevasson, CEO of Airbus in Canada. “Not only does Airbus contribute significantly to Canada’s aerospace ecosystem, but Canada also provides Airbus with world-class talent, expertise, major aircraft components and access to strategic raw materials availability, to name but a few.”

The study reveals that Airbus supports 27% of all aerospace jobs in the province of Quebec. The PwC report notes the average income of an Airbus employee in Canada is approximately 60% higher than the average salary across all industries in the country.      

Last year, close to 60% of the Canadian aircraft exports – all aircraft sizes and weight classes combined – were Airbus products assembled locally. Each aircraft delivered engages a Canadian network of suppliers spanning multiple links in the value chain – from major industrial players to companies specialising in engineering, technical services, and aeronautical systems. International deliveries thus help integrate segments of this supply chain into global markets. They support the operations of Canada-based suppliers and can enhance their exposure to major international aerospace programmes.

From a few hundred employees at its Fort Erie helicopter site in 1984 to the acquisition of the A220 programme in 2018 and its subsequent strong growth, Airbus today employs over 5,300 employees in Canada, mostly based in Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Between 2023 and 2025, Airbus’ Commercial business unit contributed $5.5 billion to Canada’s GDP. This contribution includes both the value added generated directly by its activities and the indirect and induced benefits across the economy. The A220 programme continues to ramp up production to 13 aircraft to be produced per month in 2028. Over the last three years, Airbus Helicopters’ activities contributed $237.5M of GDP to the Canadian economy. This investment actively supports over 350 suppliers across the country as well as nearly 2,000 jobs, significantly contributing to the dynamism of the national aerospace ecosystem. Anchored by its helicopter sales and deliveries, composite manufacturing, repair and overhaul, optional equipment development, and support and services activities in Fort Erie, Airbus Helicopters’ operations in Canada support over 230 domestic operators while exporting composite components to global markets.

Over the same period, Airbus Defence and Space entities generated $778.4M of spending in the Canadian economy. Airbus Defence and Space Canada located in Ottawa, Ontario is involved in several key projects for the Canadian government and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Leading this momentum, Airbus’ digital aviation services subsidiary, Skywise, based in Waterloo, Ontario, contributed a vital $184M between 2023 and 2025, anchoring the company’s cutting-edge technological footprint in Canada’s premier innovation corridor. Coupled with a $617M contribution from fellow subsidiary Airbus Atlantic Canada through its strategic aerostructures activities in Mirabel, Quebec, these figures underscore a highly diversified, pan-Canadian industrial strategy that leverages regional strengths to power the future of global aviation.

To read the full PwC study report, or for more information about Airbus in Canada, please visit our website.