Cathay has become the co-initiator of the Hong Kong Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition (HKSAFC) as part of its efforts to contribute towards the decarbonisation of the aviation industry.

The coalition is convened and chaired by the Business Environment Council (BEC), along with 13 founding partners from the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) value chain in light of the Hong Kong SAR Government's push to drive the use of SAF in Hong Kong.

 [Source: Cathay]

The HKSAFC is a multi-stakeholder platform in the region that brings together the aviation industry, SAF producers, fuel suppliers, infrastructure developers, corporate users and policymakers to collaborate on advancing the development, supply and use of SAF.

The HKSAFC aims to facilitate the adoption of SAF in Hong Kong by conducting whitepaper research on SAF development, engaging with different stakeholders and the Government, and raising public awareness of the benefits as well as challenges of SAF.

The coalition also seeks to grow Hong Kong as a regional SAF hub that can contribute to global climate mitigation efforts and China’s carbon-neutrality target.

Cathay noted that it supports the Hong Kong SAR Government's intention to promote the supply of SAF.

"The Government fully endorses the direction of using SAF to decarbonise the aviation sector, which helps maintain the leading position of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in green and sustainable development," said Liu Chun San, JP, acting secretary for transport and logistics, at the launch ceremony of HKSAFC. 

Apart from the environmental benefits, ensuring the sufficient supply of SAF at HKIA would help consolidate Hong Kong's international aviation hub status.

Cathay noted that most airlines now have their own sustainability goals or requirements imposed by their base governments on the use of SAF.

The availability of SAF at airports will be, if not has been, one of the major considerations of airlines in flight planning and expansion.

"Sustainability is a key focus for Cathay, and we are committed to achieving our carbon net-zero goal by 2050," commented Ronald Lam, Cathay Group chief executive officer.

"We firmly believe that SAF is a key enabler for the aviation industry to achieve its long-term environmental targets and to support the global transition to a low-carbon economy."

Lam went on to note that Hong Kong has to be able to cultivate the development and use of SAF in order to retain and enhance its leading international aviation hub status.

"However, we cannot do this alone — it requires collaboration among all parties, and the HKSAFC is an important step in this direction. I look forward to working with all of the Coalition Partners in the coming months and years to join the global efforts to tackle the climate challenge," the Cathay Group chief executive added.

Simon Ng, HKSAFC chair and chief executive officer of BEC noted that through the launch of HKSAFC, BEC will engage with multiple stakeholders to accelerate the deployment of SAF at Hong Kong International Airport, ensuring its availability and affordability.

"Aviation is widely recognised as one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. In the foreseeable future, SAF is considered the most viable way for decarbonising the sector," he said.

Cathay noted that similarly, it has partnered with nine corporate customers through its Corporate SAF Programme, launched in 2022, to accelerate SAF adoption and convey a signal of firm demand for SAF from multi-sectoral players.

"Cathay hopes to work closely with the Government and the HKSAFC to create a conducive market environment for SAF, especially with the airline’s commitment to using SAF for 10% of its total fuel usage by 2030," the airline said.