A Democratic member of the US House of Representatives and a counterpart on the Republican side of the government body together have launched the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus, which is now seeking to expand its ranks with additional House members. Representatives Sharice Davids, a Democrat from Kansas, and Dusty Johnson, a Republican from South Dakota, will co-chair the caucus. Kansas and South Dakota are in the US heartland region, where US corn production is concentrated, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Growers of corn – a primary feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel – got a boost in late April when the US Treasury and Internal Revenue Service released guidance providing corn-feedstock-based SAF producers with long-awaited clarity on whether the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model can be used to satisfy requirements needed to qualify for the section 45Z SAF Clean Fuel Production Credit embedded in the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by US president Joe Biden in August 2022. The original law did not specify use of the GREET model. The new congressional caucus intends to apply federal policy and hold forums with an eye toward accelerating the development of sustainable aviation fuel "and the integration of technologies that improve aircraft fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and save money in the long run," Davids' office says. "Adopting these sustainable practices is critical for our national security and economic resilience," Davids states. "I'm glad to join forces with representative Johnson to ensure America's aviation industry continues to be resilient and reliable for years to come." Johnson adds: "The aviation industry is flying towards a more sustainable future. From sustainable aviation fuel to advanced air mobility to hydrogen aviation, there are a lot of shifts we can expect to see in the coming years."

Emirates has become the first international airline to join Aireg, a German aviation initiative for renewable energy. The UAE carrier says it will contribute to efforts to ramp up locally produced sustainable aviation fuel in Germany. Aireg is a non-profit initiative founded in 2011 as an association of companies and organisations from industry, research and science to boost the availability and use of renewable energies in aviation to achieve CO2-reduction targets. "We're very pleased to become a member of Aireg and contribute to Germany's efforts to build its capacities to become a centre for SAF production," states Emirates Airline president Tim Clark. "Ramping up and furthering technologies for the production of SAF requires the partnership and support from multiple stakeholders, and we are confident that Aireg will lead in this regard." Dubai-based Emirates currently operates SAF-powered flights from Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Paris, Lyon, Oslo and Singapore.

The US Federal Aviation Administration is extending a slot-usage waiver at airports in the New York city area through the end of the summer 2025 scheduling season due to continued air traffic control staffing shortages. The extension affects John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International airports. The FAA is also extending flexibility for impacted flights operating between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and New York airports. The agency says air traffic controller hiring is one of its "top priorities" and that it is "on track" to hire 1,800 controllers in 2024, which it says is 300 more than in 2023. "Currently, there are not enough certified controllers at N90 to allow the FAA to handle normal traffic levels," it says, referring to the designator for the air traffic control facility in Westbury on New York's Long Island. It adds that it plans for the Philadelphia Air Traffic Control Tower/TRACON to take over the Newark airspace "to improve efficiency and safety in this region". "The FAA is receptive to carriers' requests for slot usage flexibility and the agency expects that airlines will use this opportunity to operate larger aircraft, transporting more passengers," says the agency. "This, in turn, will require sufficient ground crews to service the larger aircraft and ensure passengers are fully informed about any possible disruptions." The slot-usage waiver allows carriers to reduce schedules at the New York airports by 10% without penalties for non-use of slots or previously approved operating times. The FAA had previously extended the slot-usage waiver through October 2024.