Europe has all the ingredients to lead in sustainable and competitive air transport globally. A bold and forward-looking investment plan could position the EU at the forefront of clean aviation technologies and SAF development. It is therefore vital that the forthcoming STIP combines a robust investment strategy — mobilising both public and private capital — with a clear political commitment to finance low-carbon fuels, including SAF, e-SAF, hydrogen refuelling, and fast electric charging infrastructure at airports. The Sustainable Transport Investment Plan must mark a new chapter in EU climate policy — one that empowers the European aviation sector to succeed in the energy transition and reinforce its competitiveness rather than placing its future viability at risk.