Cathay on Jan. 29 further demonstrated its steadfast commitment to contributing towards the decarbonization of the aviation industry and establishing itself as a sustainability leader as it proudly welcomed the successful launch of the Hong Kong Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition (HKSAFC) as its co-initiator. The coalition is convened and chaired by Business Environment Council (BEC), along with 13 founding partners from the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) value chain.

In October 2023, the Hong Kong SAR Government highlighted the importance of SAF in its 2023 Policy Address, emphasizing forward-looking planning to drive the use of SAF in Hong Kong. Cathay supports the Government’s intention to promote the supply of SAF. The HKSAFC is a multi-stakeholder platform in the region that brings together the aviation industry, SAF producers, fuel suppliers, infrastructure developers, corporate users and policymakers to collaborate on advancing the development, supply and use of SAF.

The HKSAFC aims to facilitate the adoption of SAF in Hong Kong by conducting whitepaper research on SAF development, engaging with different stakeholders and the Government, and raising public awareness of the benefits as well as challenges of SAF. The coalition also seeks to grow Hong Kong as a regional SAF hub that can contribute to global climate mitigation efforts and China’s carbon-neutrality target.

Mr Liu Chun San, JP, Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics, said at the launch ceremony, “The Government fully endorses the direction of using SAF to decarbonize the aviation sector which helps maintaining the leading position of Hong Kong International Airport (“HKIA”) in green and sustainable development. Apart from the environmental benefits, ensuring the sufficient supply of SAF at HKIA would help consolidate Hong Kong’s international aviation hub status. Most airlines now have their own sustainability goals or requirements imposed by their base-governments on the use of SAF. The availability of SAF at airports will be, if not has been, one of the major considerations of airlines in flight planning and expansion.”

Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam, said, “Sustainability is a key focus for Cathay, and we are committed to achieving our carbon net-zero goal by 2050. We firmly believe that SAF is a key enabler for the aviation industry to achieve its long-term environmental targets and to support the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

“Hong Kong has to be able to cultivate the development and use of SAF in order to retain and enhance its leading international aviation hub status. However, we cannot do this alone – it requires collaboration among all parties, and the HKSAFC is an important step in this direction. I look forward to working with all of the Coalition Partners in the coming months and years, to join the global efforts to tackle the climate challenge.”

HKSAFC Chair and Chief Executive Officer of BEC Simon Ng said, “Aviation is widely recognised as one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. In the foreseeable future, SAF is considered the most viable way for decarbonising the sector. Through the launch of HKSAFC, BEC will engage with multiple stakeholders to accelerate the deployment of SAF at Hong Kong International Airport, ensuring its availability and affordability.”

Cathay is proud to be part of the HKSAFC, and collaborate with the BEC and other coalition partners to drive advancements in decarbonisation within the aviation industry. These include:

•          AFSC Operations Limited

•          Airport Authority Hong Kong 

•          Board of Airline Representatives Hong Kong

•          Business Environment Council

•          Cathay Pacific Airways Limited

•          China Aviation Oil (Hong Kong) Company Limited

•          ECO Aviation Fuel Services Limited

•          EcoCeres Limited

•          PetroChina International (Hong Kong) Corporation Limited

•          PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited

•          Shell Aviation

•          Sinopec (Hong Kong) Aviation Co., Ltd

•          Standard Chartered Bank (HK) Ltd

•          Swire Pacific Limited

Cathay hopes to work closely with the Government and the HKSAFC to create a conducive market environment for SAF, especially with the airline’s commitment to using SAF for 10% of its total fuel usage by 2030. Cathay has also partnered with nine corporate customers through its Corporate SAF Programme, launched in 2022, to accelerate SAF adoption and convey a signal of firm demand for SAF from multi-sectoral players. For more information, please visit: www.cathay.com.

What is SAF?

SAF is a low-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from flight activities by over 80% on a lifecycle basis. SAF can be produced from various feedstocks, such as waste oils and greases, biomass, and municipal solid waste, and can be blended with conventional jet fuel without any modification to existing aircraft.

What is Cathay’s Corporate SAF Programme?

Cathay’s Corporate SAF Programme is the first major program of its kind in Asia. Established in 2022, it provides corporate customers with an opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint from business travel or airfreight by contributing to the use of SAF. Cathay is determined to continue to scale-up the program this year, extending the service to more corporate customers.