ReFuelEU Aviation now also applies at LSZH\/Zurich and LSGG\/Geneva.<\/strong> Switzerland isn\u2019t in the EU, but it has chosen to adopt the rules, which means both airports are treated just like Union airports. The official list<\/a> is attached if you want to double-check. It does look like the Swiss ICAO codes are wrong, but it\u2019s just a typo. Zurich and Geneva are clearly intended and this should be fixed in a future update.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a still relatively new framework in Europe called ReFuelEU<\/a>, and it looks like it\u2019s going to be a real headache for operators.<\/p>\n Since January 2025, the rules have applied to all large commercial operators<\/strong>\u00a0(those doing 500+ flights from EU airports each year). Over the course of a calendar year, operators must ensure that, on average, 90% of the fuel required for flights departing from a specific EU airport is uplifted at that airport. The reporting is done annually, so it\u2019s about maintaining compliance as a yearly average rather than for each individual flight.<\/strong><\/p>\n These rules applies to all commercial operators<\/strong> – both EU-based and non-EU-based. Private flights and all non-commercial operations are exempt.<\/p>\n This whole ReFuelEU thing is being run by the EU. They claim it’s part of the general push to “make things more green”<\/strong>. Maybe. Or maybe these anti-tankering rules are actually more to do with the EU getting fed up with big airlines blazing into Europe with their tanks still half-full<\/strong> of the cheap fuel they brought from “home”. European airports, unable to sell as much of their expensive fuel, have been missing out.<\/p>\n But remember – the rules apply to intra-EU flights as well!<\/strong> So it’s not just all those Middle East to Europe flights that are affected. For example, a flight from Bulgaria (cheap fuel) to Germany (expensive fuel) will not be allowed to tanker either.<\/p>\n Politics aside, these new rules are going to be disproportionately tough on bizjet operators <\/strong>with unscheduled, last-minute flights. Whilst one could claim this whole thing might make some sense for airlines, it will make planning extremely tricky for other large non-scheduled commercial operators who don’t necessarily know what they’ll be doing next week, let alone across the entire year! Also, there’s really not so much value on the “make things more green” front either. 777s, A380s and A380s often tanker tonnes of fuel; Citations, Falcons and Gulfstreams – not so much. Then there’s the added complexities with reporting, reduced fuel flexibility, and even potential safety risks if operators start running tighter fuel margins.<\/p>\n Welcome to hell. We’re not going to dive deep down into this basket of snakes here, but just to give a rough outline of what operators have to do…<\/p>\n 1. Prepare an annual report.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n This should include:<\/p>\n 2. Pay to get the report verified.<\/strong><\/p>\n The verifier will ensure the report is accurate, complete, and compliant with the rules. They will review the operator\u2019s data, including:<\/p>\n Any discrepancies or missing data must be resolved before the report is finalized.<\/p>\n 3. Submit the report.<\/strong><\/p>\n The reporting period is the calendar year, from January 1 to December 31. So the key dates for this are as follows:<\/p>\n The first annual report was due by March 31 2025, covering the reporting period from Jan 1 to Dec 31 2024.<\/p>\n Not all of them!<\/p>\n The rules apply to “Union Airports” that meet certain thresholds – mainly those where pax traffic exceeds 800,000 passengers annually.<\/strong> Smaller airports that do not meet these thresholds are excluded to avoid placing “undue operational and financial burdens” on them.<\/p>\n Also, airports in\u00a0“Outermost Regions”<\/strong> (e.g. the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, and French overseas territories) are generally excluded too, due to their geographic and logistical challenges. These airports can opt-in to the rules if they like though.<\/p>\n The EU publishes and updates an annual list of airports<\/strong> that fall under the scope of these rules. You can access it here.<\/a><\/p>\n The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA)<\/strong> are currently working on presenting some of the issues to the EU. But ultimately, they highlight three big issues:<\/strong><\/p>\nJan 2025 update:<\/h6>\n
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Reporting rules for operators<\/h4>\n
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Key dates for reporting.<\/h4>\n
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What airports in the EU are impacted?<\/h4>\n
Other concerns for Business Aviation<\/h4>\n
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