Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Programme

The Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Programme is part of our ongoing commitment to combat climate change, and one of the first of its kind in Asia. With financial support from corporate customers, we were able to supply SAF to flights departing from our home base at Hong Kong International Airport for the first time. We are also scaling up the use of SAF and uplift SAF overseas.

What is SAF?

SAF is one of the most important ways to decarbonise airline operations in the next few decades, especially for long-haul travel. Compared to conventional jet fuel, SAF has the potential to reduce over 80 per cent of lifecycle carbon emissions depending on the SAF technology used, as it is made from renewable and waste sources. We’ve made a commitment to use SAF for 10 per cent of our total fuel consumption by 2030: it’s all part of our commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Together, we can reduce carbon emissions generated by business travel and air freight, and lead the transition to renewable energy in aviation.

How the programme works

Our Corporate SAF Programme accelerates the global transition to sustainable aviation while providing our customers with clear documentation of their Scope 3 emissions reductions.

Cathay Pacific sources SAF certified by internationally recognised sustainability standards.*
Customers contribute to scale up the use of SAF on Cathay Pacific and Cathay Cargo flights.
Cathay Pacific will make use of the SAF, instead of standard fossil jet fuel, to power flights.
Cathay Pacific will issue a verified emissions reduction certificate and a third-party assurance letter, to help corporates reduce Scope 3 carbon emissions from business travel or cargo transportation. This includes the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for in-sector emissions reduction for aviation-related indirect emissions.

* Such as the EU Renewable Energy Directive, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) or International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) system.

Why join our Corporate SAF Programme?

Customers who join our programme will be able to:

Reduce Scope 3 Carbon Emissions via an insetting measure which fulfils various carbon emissions disclosure requirements, including the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Take the lead in accelerating the use of SAF, especially in Asia.
Communicate a real commitment towards sustainable business travel or air cargo transportation to their stakeholders.

A message from our CEO, Ronald Lam

"We’re taking a multi-pronged approach to contribute to the aviation industry’s decarbonisation journey. Since the launch of this programme, we have received strong support from our corporate and cargo customers. Our programme has reached new heights this year, with significantly more partners involved and a substantially larger volume of SAF committed to date. This programme will help reduce carbon footprints and convey a clear message to the SAF supply chain that there is a firm demand from this part of the world. We look forward to welcoming other interested companies to sign up and join our mission to be Greener Together.”

What our corporate customers had to say

Strategic Partner

HSBC

"HSBC is pleased to partner with Cathay Pacific to advance the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Hong Kong. This initiative, which aims to support a key innovation for the long-term decarbonisation of air travel, has demonstrated how businesses can collaborate to adopt innovative decarbonisation technologies and foster a local SAF ecosystem."

Luanne Lim
Chief Executive Officer Hong Kong

Diamond Partners

DB Schenker

"By setting a benchmark here in the region, we aim to inspire many followers globally and thereby accelerate the industry’s path to sustainability. This demonstrates that business growth and sustainability can truly go hand in hand."

Thorsten Meincke
Board Member, Air and Ocean 

Kuehne+Nagel

"SAF is a tangible solution that we can offer our customers to reduce emissions in their supply chains, thereby continuing to enable global trade in a more sustainable way."

Yngve Ruud
Executive Vice President Air Logistics

Gold Partners

Airport Authority
Hong Kong

"We recognise that SAF is a key solution to decarbonise the aviation sector, and aim to drive uptake at Hong Kong International Airport in the coming years. We are proud to support Cathay Pacific in their ongoing efforts to uplift SAF and we encourage all airlines to join us in fostering a sustainable aviation future."

Peter Lee
General Manager, Sustainability 

AIA

“We believe partnerships are critical in combating climate change and building a sustainable future. Our participation in Cathay Pacific’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel programme is in line with our commitment to achieve net-zero by 2050. This partnership is aligned with AIA's Purpose of helping people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives."

Amita Chaudhury
Group Head of Sustainability

Dimerco Express Group

“We work closely with our customers to reduce freight-based carbon emissions. SAF stands out as a game-changer, slashing greenhouse gas emissions up to 80% compared to fossil fuels. By joining forces with Cathay Pacific, we're taking concrete action towards a more sustainable world.”

George Chiou
President - Air Freight

EQT Group

We are the first ever private markets firm to have a validated Science-Based Target and are working to achieve our climate ambitions through a combination of investing behind key sustainability trends, such as energy transition, by optimizing our own travel, as well as by contributing to initiatives that move entire industries forward, like Cathay Pacific's Sustainable Aviation Fuel Program, in which we are proud to participate.”

Patrick Cordes
Chief Operating Officer, EQT Private Capital Asia

Kintetsu World Express

"As a group of companies in the transport sector responsible for around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, we must further accelerate more substantial industry-wide efforts to decarbonise. And SAF remains the most effective way for it. We are proud and delighted to keep on working with Cathay Pacific in our partnership that has lasted more than half a century. "

Nobutoshi Torii
President & CEO

Standard Chartered

“We are delighted to be one of the first participants in Cathay Pacific’s Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Programme since 2022, jointly contributing to the global transition to net zero carbon emissions.”

Mary Huen
CEO, Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia

Swire Pacific

“SAF is key to decarbonising the aviation sector and is an integral part of our net zero journey. We are delighted to continue to support Cathay Pacific’s Corporate SAF Programme and signal demand for low-carbon options from the business community in our home market and abroad. We hope that this partnership will provide valuable insights and pave the way for scaling up SAF uplift.”

Guy Bradley
Chairman

Yusen Logistics

“ SAF is the most realistic solution today, directly reducing greenhouse gas emission within the aviation sector. We are proud to have Cathay Pacific as our partner not only for reducing our own carbon footprint, but also for helping our clients achieve their environmental goals. Our collaboration is a testament to our dedication to environmental stewardship, marking a major step towards 2050 net-zero target.”

Eisuke Fukagawa
Head of Air Freight Forwarding Group

Silver Partners

Julius Baer

"We are pleased to partner with Cathay, one of the leading airlines in Asia and around the world with a high-quality SAF programme. As air travel makes up a significant portion of our emissions, we need to find ways to decarbonise flying, and today SAF is one of the concrete solutions we have. With our partnership, we hope to help SAF scale up into a more mainstream market, while reducing emissions generated from flying."

Yvonne Suter
Head of Sustainability

Lenton Group

"We are excited to take a significant step to join and support Cathay Pacific’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) program. This partnership reflects our commitment to sustainability and reduction of freight-based carbon emissions in the logistics sector. By working together and supporting future investments, we aim to accelerate the development of sustainable end-to-end logistics solutions. Working Together for a better tomorrow."

Valerie Dubuisson
Group CEO

What our NGO partner had to say

Business Environment Council

"Being the most feasible solution currently available for adoption on a commercial scale, SAF will play a critical role in decarbonising emissions from aviation, while maintaining Hong Kong’s competitive edge as a regional and global hub. BEC’s participation in this programme signals our commitment to reducing emissions and working towards a green, liveable and sustainable Hong Kong."

Simon Ng
Chief Executive Officer

Join the climate fight

Learn how you can help to create a sustainable future while meeting the needs of your business..

How to join us

While our SAF programme has been created for our corporate customers, individual passengers can also take action to fight against climate change. Our Fly Greener programme allows you to offset carbon emissions from your flights, with funds raised going directly to third-party-validated projects that help to reduce or prevent CO2 emissions.