The EU’s Transition Away from Leaded AVGAS: Challenges and Industry Responses
The European Union’s phase-out of leaded aviation gasoline (AVGAS 100LL) by May 2025 is reshaping the future of general aviation. With health and environmental concerns driving the ban, stakeholders face urgent questions about fleet viability, training continuity, and regulatory compliance. This blog breaks down the crisis, its implications, and airport responses across Europe.
Why the Production of Leaded Aviation Gasoline Is Being Phased Out
Leaded AVGAS has powered piston-engine aircraft since the 1950s, but its key additive, tetraethyl lead (TEL), is a toxic relic. Linked to neurological damage and environmental contamination, TEL was banned as an additive in automotive fuels decades ago. However, aviation retained it due to technical necessity as TEL prevents engine knocking and lubricates critical components like valve seats.
Recent EU assessments confirm that even trace lead emissions from Avgas pose risks, especially near airports and flight training hubs. With the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) classifying TEL as a severe reproductive toxin, its inclusion on the REACH list of restricted chemical substances became unavoidable.
The 2025 Deadline: What’s at Stake
By the inclusion of the TEL on the REACH list, the additive may no longer be imported or mixed within the European Union by the deadline of May 2025. Unless exemptions are granted, this would effectively prevent the production of AVGAS 100LL within the EU. This could ground up to 70,000 aircraft — nearly a third of Europe’s general aviation fleet.
While unleaded alternatives like G100UL and UL 94 are available, their adoption is hindered by certification bottlenecks. Manufacturers must provide EASA-certified Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) to modify engines and fuel systems for compatibility with unleaded fuel alternatives. These STCs often require exhaustive redesigns of components such as fuel injectors, seals, and valve trains, which were originally calibrated for leaded fuels.
Although the EU production of leaded aviation gasoline will be banned from May 1, 2025, the import of premixed blends containing TEL (including AVGAS 100LL) will not be restricted by this deadline.
Challenges with Unleaded Fuel Alternatives
Switching to lead-free fuels faces two big technical problems.
- Engine Damage: Older airplane engines were built to run on leaded gasoline. Without the lead additive, critical components wear out faster because of improper lubrication provided by the tetraethyl lead.
- Performance Issues: Synthetic fuel options have their own flaws. Lab-made fuels can cause in-flight engine overheating, while plant-based biofuels simply don’t provide enough power to the engines.
The Monopoly Problem
Adding to these challenges is a monopoly by the world’s only supplier of tetraethyl lead (TEL), Innospec, a UK-based company. This dominance slows progress, as there’s little financial incentive for competitors to develop better alternatives for the market.
Responses of Airports in EU Member States
Our investigation during the first quarter of 2025 into the responses of airports across EU member states, including Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, indicate that the majority do not anticipate any restrictions in the supply of AVGAS 100LL by May 2025. This suggests that the EU’s impending ban on the production of fuels containing TEL does not currently impact the availability of AVGAS 100LL at most airports.
Exceptions include Antwerp Airport (EBAW), which faces environmental restrictions limiting Avgas aircraft movements to a total of 1,000 per year, and Liège-Bierset Airport, which will discontinue Avgas supply due to operational priorities unrelated to the EU ban. Similar strategies to those announced for Liège Airport are already in place at several major airports, including Amsterdam Schiphol and Brussels, where the delivery of Avgas was already discontinued. Overall, the phase-out of TEL leaded fuel production has not yet led to widespread disruptions in availability of AVGAS 100LL at airports across Europe, highlighting a nuanced response to regulatory changes within the aviation sector.
Authorization of The AVGAS 100LL Production
The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has recommended extending the approval for the production of AVGAS 100LL until 2032. This will provide the aviation industry with additional time to develop a suitable lead-free fuel alternative for piston engine aircraft. The EU Commission is expected to approve this recommendation, despite the ongoing debate over its long-term implications.
Final Thoughts
Driven by health and environmental concerns, the phase-out of producing leaded fuels marks a significant shift in European general aviation. While the majority of airports in EU member states do not expect immediate disruptions in Avgas supply, the ban on tetraethyl lead (TEL) imports poses long-term challenges. The transition to unleaded alternatives is hindered by technical and regulatory hurdles, threatening fleet viability and flight training continuity. As the aviation sector navigates these changes, adaptive strategies and regulatory compliance will be crucial for ensuring a smooth transition and mitigating the economic impacts on aircraft values.
