Aviation will be one of the only sectors still emitting carbon in 2050. On current projections, it is unlikely to make any significant decarbonisation progress until the 2040s.

The UK government’s current approach to cutting the climate impact of aviation is not a complete solution. In particular, the route to zero emission flights (ZEF) has not been strategically formulated.

Here, we outline the potential of ZEF, its importance in reaching a net zero carbon economy, and what is needed to commercialise it.