Cathay Sets Ambitious Carbon Intensity Reduction Target for 2030

Cathay commits to a 12% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 from 2019 levels and pledges 10% SAF usage for employee duty travel starting 2024, reinforcing its 2050 net-zero carbon goal.

Cathay has solidified its commitment to sustainability within the aviation sector by announcing a new target to reduce its carbon intensity by 12% from its 2019 levels by the year 2030. This initiative is a key component of Cathay's broader ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, demonstrating the airline's dedication to leading in sustainability efforts within the industry.

To realize this objective, Cathay plans to lower its carbon emissions from jet fuel use per revenue tonne kilometre (RTK) from 761 gCO2/RTK to 670 gCO2/RTK. A significant part of this effort includes integrating over 70 new passenger and freighter aircraft into its fleet in the coming years, which are expected to be up to 25% more fuel-efficient than their predecessors.

Moreover, Cathay is intensifying its focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as a critical strategy for meeting its newly established target and eventually achieving net-zero operations. Starting in 2024, Cathay will use SAF to counteract 10% of the carbon emissions from its employees' duty travel on Cathay Pacific flights. This initiative builds on Cathay's longstanding practice of offsetting all emissions from employee duty travel since 2007 through its Fly Greener carbon offset program. This commitment to increasing SAF usage not only underlines Cathay's role as a pioneer in SAF adoption in Asia but also contributes to its aim of utilizing SAF for 10% of its total fuel consumption by 2030.

Ronald Lam, Cathay's Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the airline's resolve to enhance its climate performance by leveraging SAF, updating its fleet, and optimizing operational efficiencies. "This new carbon intensity target underlines our immediate actions towards our long-term sustainability goals," Lam stated.

As one of the pioneering airlines in Asia to aim for 10% of its total fuel consumption to be SAF by 2030, Cathay acknowledges the challenges associated with shifting towards more sustainable aviation fuels. In response, Cathay has adopted a 'Greener Together' approach, calling for collaboration across the industry to achieve these ambitious sustainability goals. Through forming strategic partnerships and launching initiatives like Asia’s first significant Corporate SAF Programme and the Hong Kong Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition, Cathay is actively engaging with stakeholders to promote the use and development of SAF and drive the aviation industry towards a more sustainable future.