Hong Kong-headed Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd has recently reaffirmed its commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by pledging to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for 10 percent of its total fuel consumption by 2030.
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Cathay Pacific says that it has been supporting SAF development efforts for more than a decade. In 2014 it was the first airline investor in Fulcrum BioEnergy, from which the airline has already committed to purchasing 1.1 million tonnes of SAF over 10 years.
This will cover around 2 percent of the airline’s pre-COVID-19 fuel requirements on an annual basis. Cathay Pacific expects to begin taking delivery of SAF produced by Fulcrum and using it on a wider basis for its flights departing the United States (US) from 2024 onwards when Fulcrum can scale up its production.
The use of sustainable aviation fuel is key to decarbonizing 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 percent 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 of Cathay Pacific.
Multi-pronged emissions reduction approach
Cathay Pacific is undertaking a multi-pronged approach towards a green recovery and long-term transition towards net-zero carbon emissions. Apart from its increased usage of SAF, other key components of Cathay Pacific’s carbon reduction roadmap include fleet modernization and operational efficiency improvements.
The airline was also the first to partner with Airbus to use SAF on new aircraft delivery flights from its facility in Toulouse, France. Since the partnership started in 2016, Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of over 40 brand new aircraft using blended SAF.
The company has already 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 its premises and ground operations.
Other efforts and components include aviation and carbon capture technology innovations, and carbon offsets through its Fly Greener programme – which it says have offset over 300 000 tonnes of carbon emissions since 2007.
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 policymakers, 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, Augustus Tang said.
