Barriers to Sustainable Aviation Fuel Adoption in U.S. Airport Infrastructure: A Systematic Review

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from aircraft are a growing concern, as they contribute to global carbon emissions. One of the most prominent approaches to mitigating aviation emissions is transitioning from jet fuel to sustainable alternatives. This study examines the main barriers to adopting Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in U.S. airport infrastructure. Through a systematic literature review, it identifies the key barriers that hinder SAF adoption in U.S. airport infrastructure. The findings suggest that multiple interrelated factors constrain its large-scale deployment across the U.S. airport system. High production costs and limited fuel availability remain important economic barriers. Many U.S. airports also lack the infrastructure needed to support large-scale SAF storage, blending, and distribution. These infrastructure limitations are linked not only to aging airport facilities but also to regulatory and certification requirements. Fragmented policy frameworks and limited coordination among key stakeholders create additional challenges for SAF implementation. Based on these findings, the study proposes a conceptual framework that groups the main barriers to SAF adoption into four related categories: economic, infrastructural, policy/regulatory, and market/stakeholder. The framework also recognizes collegiate aviation programs as an important but often overlooked stakeholder in SAF adoption. The proposed framework may provide a foundation for future research and policy development for a more sustainable aviation system. © 2026.