GBTA Global Advocacy Newsletter - September 2025

 

Welcome to the late September edition of the Global Advocacy newsletter.  

There is so much action happening with the world of Advocacy. And I am here to help you see it all. A U.S. Government shutdown, interesting developments in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Advanced Air Mobility and more.  

I diverge for a second to write about the shutdown of the U.S. government. Someone asked me where things stood, I replied “we are in the public name calling phase kind of like how my friends and I talked to each other when we were 12 on the playground”. However, calling people names isn’t all that is happening behind the scenes as there are conversations happening. We just need to encourage them to get to a solution sooner rather than later!  

For the U.S. members, I encourage you to read the article and take action by sending an email to your U.S. Representative and Senators. A friendly reminder, click on the link, then click on the gray box with the bullhorn. It will tell you what is happening and provide you with a message that you can send to your members of Congress asking them to come together to fund the government and end the government shutdown. 

 

Inside this edition The Essentials Global Stage Connecting the global dots of SAF Washington Watch U.S. Government shutdown ​​​​Making the case SAF GBTA priorities for TSA DOT fast-tracks air mobility plan European Horizon Brnjac Receives Navigator Award GBTA contributes to EU travel policy planning EU takes a second look at a Book and Claim study on SAF Canada Focus GBTA outlines priorities in Pre-Budget Consultation filing

Picture of the month U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor and Sean Casten join GBTA at Climate Week NYC: Connections for Action, highlighting how industry signals can drive impactful climate policy.

The Essentials Government Showdown: Essential Services vs. Congressional Gridlock. Congress missed the deadline to fund the government, non-essential federal services are grinding to a halt, leaving millions of Americans facing disruption.​​ GBTA’s leadership in SAF Showcase Travel Industry’s Role in Decarbonizing Transport: GBTA’s correspondence highlights how Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is driving both climate progress and transformative change across multiple sectors in pursuit of net-zero goals. And in Europe, a new study on SAF Book and Claim has been announced. GBTA Pushes Modern Airport Security and Proper TSA Funding: Championing Biometric Verification and Direct Security Fee Allocation in Senate Submission. DOT Launches Electric Air Mobility Pilot Program: Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Fast-Track Next-Gen Travel with Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) Initiative. GBTA Champions Sustainable Business Travel Across EU Consultations: Group urges action on greener aviation, rail, and travel emissions tracking as EU shapes future policies. GBTA Canada Champions Business Travel in Federal Budget Talks: Strategic recommendations aim to boost connectivity, innovation, and global competitiveness for Canada’s travel sector. GBTA presents the Navigator Award to champion Member of the European Parliament Nikolina Brnjac (EPP, Croatia).

Global Stage Connecting the Global Dots of SAF for You A ton is happening in the world of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) GBTA is working in the U.S. Congress and submitting letters to Congress on improving the funding levels for production SAF credits. GBTA/SAF Champion legislators are working on introducing bi-partisan legislation. In the European Union (EU), GBTA has submitted comments around SAF. And in a potential game changer for Book and Claim of SAF, the EU is reopening a study on the issue. Governments are acting, however, we need the industry’s support/interest in SAF to grow. To help with this, the GBTA Foundation unveiled the SAF Corporate Connect, a pioneering platform designed to accelerate the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Revealed during Climate Week NYC, this new self-guided hub empowers travel program leaders with vital expertise, real-time market insights, and actionable strategies to help corporate travel make a tangible impact on reducing aviation’s carbon footprint. Why it matters: As we discuss the importance of SAF with policy makers, we point out that our industry is on the front lines of signaling market demand. GBTA members taking part in this initiative help our advocacy efforts. Help us continue to strengthen our advocacy position!​​​​ Tags: Global Advocacy, GBTA