Cathay’s Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Programme has welcomed two new members from the air-cargo community to its ranks. Freight forwarders Dimerco Express Group and Yusen Logistics have joined founder member Kintetsu World Express in the programme, which promotes the wider adoption of alternative fuel sources by the aviation industry and decarbonises members’ business travel and cargo shipments.
SAF, along with carbon-offsetting as in Cathay’s Fly Greener initiative, is currently the leading way to decarbonise aviation, especially if the industry is to meet its commitment to be carbon-neutral by 2050 ahead of the next technological leap, such as electric or hydrogen powered aircraft. The Cathay Group has additionally committed to use SAF in 10 per cent of its aviation fuel needs by 2030.
‘Sustainability is inherent in Cathay’s purpose – to move people forward in life in a sustainable and responsible manner for current and future generations,’ Ronald Lam, Chief Executive Officer of Cathay, wrote in this year’s Sustainability Report. ‘We understand that achieving this purpose and ambitious sustainability goals require collective efforts. It is only through partnerships with travellers, business partners, regulators as well as our people that we can lead by example and reach new heights in building a sustainable future, which is the true spirit of Greener Together.’
The Corporate SAF Programme is indicative of this approach: not only with new Cargo customers joining, but now Cathay Pacific itself will use SAF on flights when its people are flying on duty travel.
‘The Corporate SAF Programme was established in 2022 and is the first of its kind in Asia,’ said Grace Cheung, GM Sustainability at Cathay. ‘It empowers corporate customers to reduce their carbon footprint from their business travel and air-cargo shipments, as SAF can reduce more than 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis depending on the feedstock and production process when compared to fossil fuels.’