Cathay Pacific said it continues to make progress towards achieving its goal of using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for 10% of its total fuel use by 2030 by uplifting SAF onto its commercial flights for the very first time outside its Hong Kong hub.

In a statement, the Hong Kong-headquartered airline said a batch of SAF — blended and supplied by ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd — was refuelled at Singapore Changi Airport onto four Cathay Pacific cargo flights.

The flights were CX2076 to Hong Kong on June 7, 14, and 28 and CX2074 to Penang on June 30.

Cathay noted that this follows the use of blended SAF uplifted at Hong Kong International Airport onto selected flights last year and on the delivery flights for its new Airbus A350 from Europe over the past six years.

"This is an important milestone for Cathay Pacific and our ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As an international airline, we have a leading role to play in helping the aviation industry to decarbonise, and we are constantly exploring solutions and advocating for extensive collaboration with many stakeholders to combat climate change," said Ronald Lam, chief executive officer at Cathay Group.

"We firmly believe that SAF will be the primary lever by which the aviation industry achieves net-zero carbon emissions."

Lam further said that by expanding the uplift of blended SAF onto selected commercial flights at Changi Airport as well as at Hong Kong International Airport, Cathay hopes to strengthen SAF awareness across the Asia Pacific region and send a strong signal to the supply chain that there is firm demand for SAF from airlines.

Cathay noted in the statement that this neat SAF was created from 100% used cooking oil and meets International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) EU standards.

On a lifecycle basis, it can reduce GHG emissions by nearly 90% compared to conventional jet fuel, providing a lower GHG emissions air travel and air cargo solution.

"We are pleased to collaborate with Cathay Pacific for the successful deliveries of certified SAF in Singapore," said Ong Shwu Hoon, Asia Pacific Fuels vice president, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., adding that ExxonMobil remains focused on growing its lower GHG emission fuels business to support the decarbonisation goals of the aviation industry, leveraging our operational and logistical capabilities.

Cathay Pacific said it is committed to increasing the use of SAF on its flights.

Related to this, the airline launched the Cathay Pacific Corporate SAF Programme in 2022, the first major programme of its kind in Asia, with eight corporates as launch customers.

The programme provides corporate customers with the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint from business travel or airfreight by contributing to the use of SAF.

Cathay Pacific said it plans to bring more corporate customers on board the programme in 2023.