How you can make an impact with Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Cathay is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050,* and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)** is central to our strategy.

SAF can be made from organic and waste materials, such as used cooking oil and agricultural residue. When burned, it produces carbon dioxide at levels similar to fossil-based jet fuel, but over its life cycle, SAF can reduce carbon emissions by about 80 per cent compared to conventional fuel.***

“SAF is widely regarded as one of the most viable solutions for meaningfully reducing carbon emissions from aviation,” says Oliver Haas, Head of Sustainability – Commercial and Innovation at Cathay. “A major advantage of SAF is that it can be used with existing aircraft and can power long-haul flights.”

Yet despite its potential, SAF remains costly and scarce. It accounted for just 0.3 per cent of global jet fuel production in 2024 and currently costs two to four times more than conventional jet fuel.

“As a leading airline, it’s our responsibility to help scale SAF, but we can’t do it alone,” adds Haas. “We need close collaboration with key stakeholders, including our valued customers, to make it happen.”

Cathay has launched an SAF Programme that enables passengers to voluntarily contribute towards scaling up SAF usage across our network. Accessible via this link or through “Manage booking” on the Cathay website, our tool estimates your flight’s carbon emissions, then lets you select the amount of SAF you’d like to contribute.**** We use these contributions to purchase additional SAF beyond any mandatory requirements. You’ll receive a digital record and eligible Cathay members can earn Asia Miles at a preferential rate of HKD1 = 1.

“We launched this initiative this year following the success of our Corporate SAF Programme,” says Nic Fong, Sustainability Commercial Manager at Cathay. “It allows us to engage customers in our decarbonisation journey, while recognising their contributions through Asia Miles.”

He reveals that it’ll soon be even easier for customers to participate, as the SAF purchase platform will be integrated into the booking flow of the Cathay Pacific website. As you fly with us, consider making an SAF contribution. It’s a simple step to help lower the environmental impact of flying – and a meaningful way to reshape the future of travel. When we move thoughtfully, we go further together.

*Learn more about our targets and progress from our annual Sustainability Report. 

**“Sustainable Aviation Fuel” is an industry term used to refer to an alternative to fossil-based jet fuel. As a drop-in fuel substitution, it can be safely blended with conventional jet fuel and used in today's aircraft engines. When burned, SAF produces carbon dioxide at levels similar to conventional jet fuels, but the carbon dioxide released is already part of the natural carbon cycle, rather than being extracted specifically for making jet fuel. This results in a reduction in carbon emissions compared to fossil-based jet fuel. 

***Based on the SAF we procured in 2024. Please visit here for more information.  

****Please note your SAF purchase does not directly reduce the carbon emission associated with your specific flight. Learn more about how you’re contributing.