Cathay Pacific reaffirms its commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 with a pledge to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel for 10 percent of its total fuel consumption by 2030. The airline has made pioneering efforts in supporting SAF development for more than 10 years.

In 2014, Cathay Pacific invested in Fulcrum BioEnergy; the airline also committed to purchase 1.1 million tons of the fuel over a decade, around 2 percent of its pre-COVID-19 fuel requirements annually. Cathay Pacific plans to begin taking delivery of SAF produced by Fulcrum and using it more widely for U.S.-departing flights in 2024 and onward. Fulcrum will be ready at that time to scale up production.

The airline also partnered with Airbus in 2016 to use SAF on new delivery flights. Since the partnership’s beginning, Cathay has taken delivery of more than 40 new aircraft using blended SAF.

“The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is key to decarbonising our operations over the next few decades. Cathay Pacific already has a head start in this space with our investment and offtake agreement with Fulcrum BioEnergy. Our new commitment to have SAF comprise 10% of our total fuel consumption by 2030 is a clear signal of our determination to achieve our net-zero emissions target and to be a leader in the fight against climate change,” said Augustus Tang, CEO, Cathay Pacific. “The ability to achieve this target does not rest with airlines alone. We are calling on support from various stakeholder groups to help make it a reality, from policy makers, the energy sector, aircraft and engine manufacturers, and even our customers, who are keen to reduce their carbon footprint. Only by joining hands can we meet this ambitious goal together.”

Cathay Pacific’s carbon reduction roadmap also includes fleet modernization, operational efficiency improvements, aviation and carbon capture technology innovations, and carbon offsets through its Fly Greener program, which has offset more than 300,000 tons of carbon emissions since 2007. Cathay also pledged to cut its absolute ground emissions by 32 percent from the 2018 baseline by 2030 through enhancing energy-saving measures and exploring renewable energy options in ground operations.

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