Cathay, SIA partner on SAF sustainability initiatives

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have signed an initial deal to work on initiatives for the development and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Asia-Pacific.

The agreement was signed by Cathay chief executive Ronald Lam and SIA counterpart Goh Choon Phong in Dubai on the sidelines of this week's 80th International Air Transport Association annual meeting and World Air Transport Summit.

The agreement underscores both airlines' commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. It focus on jointly advocating for greater use of SAF in Asia-Pacific, including raising awareness about SAF's role in decarbonising aviation and advocating for supportive policies in the region. They aim to promote the creation of a standard global accounting and reporting framework to ensure the transparency and verifiability of emissions reductions from SAF use. They will also explore potential opportunities for joint buying of SAF at selected locations.

Another focus area will be reducing single-use plastics, minimising waste and increasing energy efficiency in ground and cargo operations.

Cathay had pledged in 2021 for SAF to account for at least 10pc of its total fuel consumption by 2030. It refuelled four cargo flights out of Singapore's Changi Airport last year using jet fuel blended with SAF supplied by ExxonMobil.

SIA and its budget arm Scoot are also targeting 5pc SAF in their total fuel requirements by 2030. Finnish biofuels producer Neste signed an agreement in May to supply neat SAF from its Singapore refinery to SIA and Scoot.

By Sarah Giam