Cathay Pacific Expands Sustainable Aviation Fuel Program with New Partners

Cathay Pacific, committed to becoming a leader in sustainability and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, has announced the addition of three new partners to its Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Programme. These include cargo customers Dimerco Express Group and Yusen Logistics, and Business Environment Council, the program's first non-governmental organisation (NGO) partner. This initiative is a part of Cathay's broader strategy to decarbonize the aviation industry through increased collaboration and adoption of renewable energy.

The new partners will join initial members like AIA, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), Kintetsu World Express (KWE), PwC China, Standard Chartered, and Swire Pacific in Cathay's mission to reduce climate impact from business travel and airfreight activities. This commitment is centered around scaling up the use of SAF, recognized as a key driver in reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector.

Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer, emphasizes the airline's multi-faceted approach towards a greener future, with SAF being a crucial element. The program has seen strong support since its inception in 2022, highlighting a clear demand for SAF in Asia. Lam welcomes the new partners and appreciates the continued support from the launch customers.

SAF is seen as the primary means of decarbonizing airline operations in the coming decades, capable of reducing over 80% of carbon emissions compared to conventional jet fuel, depending on the technology and feedstock used. Cathay aims for 10% of its total fuel use to be SAF by 2030, a pioneering step in the industry. In 2022, the airline commenced SAF uplifts at Hong Kong International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport, using fuel derived from used cooking oil and animal fat waste, supplied by ExxonMobil and Shell.

The partnership between Cathay and the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding last year, seeks to advance SAF supply chain development in China. Alongside increasing SAF usage, Cathay's carbon reduction roadmap includes fleet modernization, operational efficiency improvements, emerging technology adoption, and high-quality carbon offset projects.