In a global context filled with uncertainty stemming from geopolitical tensions, growing regulatory challenges, and concern about European competitiveness, we interviewed Nicoletta Masi, IATA’s Manager, Campaigns and Policy Southern Europe, based in our Rome office, to share firsthand insights on the key issues in Italy.
The war has certainly had an impact and exposed some issues for Italy to address. In the short term, there are no immediate concerns around fuel supply availability. However, the broader picture highlights a clear vulnerability. Italy imports close to half of its jet fuel. This creates an underlying imbalance between supply and demand which, as we have seen with the disruptions in the Gulf, can translate into tighter conditions, higher costs and reduced flexibility. From an aviation perspective, fuel needs to be considered a strategic issue, essential to supporting both connectivity and long-term growth.
In the current situation, a resilient fuel supply chain depends on diversified sources of supply and efficient access to fuel infrastructure. Whether fuel is delivered through pipeline systems or other logistics arrangements, maintaining flexibility, competition and efficient distribution across the airport network is essential.
The situation at Milan Malpensa Airport illustrates how these structural issues can materialize in practice. Airlines operating at the airport are already facing constraints in fuel supply alongside significantly higher fuel-related costs compared to other European hubs. These additional costs have increased sharply in recent years increasing pressure on operations. Recent measures such as allowing fuel deliveries by road tankers, are welcome and underline the importance of pragmatic, collective solutions. However, these are essentially short-term mitigations. Addressing the issue in a more long-term sustainable way will require broader action to improve supply flexibility, strengthen infrastructure, and ensure more competitive conditions in the long run.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) remains the leading solution to deliver the industry’s targets.
In Italy, as early as in 2019, ENAC (Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority) established the National SAF Observatory—one of the first platforms of its kind in Europe—bringing together institutions, regulators and industry players to define a coordinated approach. This was followed by the launch of the Patto per la Decarbonizzazione del Trasporto Aereo (Pact for Air Transport Decarbonization), now Fondazione PACTA, a private initiative, further reinforcing collaboration and promoting a common voice across the ecosystem. IATA is actively engaged in both initiatives.
Italy also shows significant potential in SAF development, including a potentially significant projected share of future European production capacity. Nonetheless, there are still structural challenges to address, particularly the cost gap between SAF and conventional fuel and the need to diversify technologies and feedstocks to ensure long-term scalability. It is essential that the transition is supported by policies and instruments preserving connectivity and competitiveness, especially in a global context where airlines need to operate across very different regulatory environments.
Operational efficiency is another key pillar of Italy’s decarbonization roadmap, which translates into concrete projects. The National Airspace Strategy (NAS), launched in 2017 under a coordinated framework led by ENAC and ENAV (Italy’s Air Navigation Service Provider) and supported by IATA, brought together the industry including the military, airports and airlines in a structured, bottom-up framework to improve airspace modernization given the stalling of the Single European Sky initiative. It has already delivered tangible benefits such as more efficient flight trajectories, reduced fuel burn and lower CO₂ emissions.
What makes this particularly relevant is the approach itself, as it demonstrates how industry collaboration can lead to measurable improvements in a relatively short timeframe. Moreover, in a context where some elements of the transition such as SAF depend on external factors, initiatives like the NAS prove that industry-led solutions exist and can deliver immediate results. Perhaps also a replicable best practice at European level.
The difficulties and delays we’re seeing with the EES certainly has a potential to see unruly behavior, but in fact passengers have been very patient and understanding, as they recognize these problems are not the fault of the airline. Nevertheless, we are always looking to ensure that unruly passenger incidents, which are rare, become even rarer. It requires regulatory action as well as industry cooperation. Italy’s recent adoption of the Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14), which amends the Tokyo Convention, is worth celebrating, as it strengthens the legal framework to address unruly passenger behavior by closing jurisdictional gaps and enabling more effective enforcement after landing. It is also encouraging to see alignment across the region after Malta adopted the protocol back in 2020, becoming the first European country in Southern Europe to do so.
Prevention, however, is always better than cure. Experience shows that disruptive situations often develop before boarding, and Italy has already taken concrete action on the ground. In 2025, ENAC promoted a national protocol signed by IATA together with airports, airlines, ground handlers and public authorities to strengthen coordination on the prevention and management of unruly behavior. This includes awareness campaigns, staff training, and the development of common procedures to identify and address risks from an early stage. The combination of enhanced legal tools and coordinated preventive action is particularly important in the context of growing traffic volumes and increasing operational complexity, helping to ensure a smooth passenger experience, while supporting a safe and efficient working environment for airlines and airport staff.
Additional information:
