Cathay Airlines’ SAF programme strengthened with DB Schenker as CEO | kbnmart

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Cathays’ CAF Corporate Programme welcomes DB Schenker as a majority shareholder, highlighting their shared commitment to reducing aviation’s carbon footprint and promoting sustainability.

DB Schenker has joined Cathay’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) programme, becoming the largest participant to date. By committing to this initiative, DB Schenker aims to significantly reduce its carbon emissions.

Launched in 2022, the SAF Corporate Programme addresses climate change by allowing members to purchase SAF for use on Cathay Pacific and Cathay Cargo flights from various ports, including Hong Kong. DB Schenker’s commitment to purchase 878 tonnes of SAF (approximately 290,000 US gallons) reinforces its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of air cargo operations, a commitment that began in 2020 with the initial use of SAF.

Sustainable fuel is essential for the aviation industry to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Cathay Pacific has pledged that 10% of its fuel consumption will come from sustainable fuel by 2030. This initiative complements Cathay Cargo’s Fly Greener programme, which supports carbon offsetting through Gold Standard certified projects.

In addition, Cathay Group recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore Airlines to collaborate on promoting the development and adoption of sustainable aviation fuels in the Asia-Pacific region, underscoring the key role of sustainable fuels in decarbonizing the aviation sector. Cathay Cargo has also ordered new Airbus A350F freighters, which offer improved fuel efficiency.

Cathay’s shipping director Tom Owen said:“We are delighted to welcome DB Schenker as the newest member of Cathay’s Corporate Sustainable Jet Fuel Programme – and the largest contributor to date. It is fantastic to have this level of support from a major player in the air cargo industry to work with us to decarbonise aviation. By replacing conventional jet fuel with SAF, DB Schenker’s commitment is equivalent to saving over 2,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This powerfully sends the message that there is a real and growing demand for sustainable jet fuel and this partnership is a testament to the collaborative spirit of Greener Together, as we move one step closer to the goal of a more sustainable air cargo industry.”

“By partnering with Cathay Pacific on sustainable fuel, we are reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and leadership in air cargo,” said Thorsten Meinecke, Member of the Global Management Board for Air and Ocean Cargo at DB Schenker. “This collaboration underscores our environmental responsibility in air cargo and supports the global push for sustainable fuels by increasing demand in more regions around the world, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.”

Cathay Pacific has partnered with several fuel suppliers to incorporate sustainable aviation fuel at its Hong Kong hub and other ports within its network. The sustainable aviation fuel used in the agreement with DB Schenker is produced from waste cooking oil and animal fat. Through this programme, Cathay Pacific provides members with documentation to verify Scope 3 emission reductions from flights using sustainable aviation fuel. Depending on the raw material and production process, sustainable aviation fuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80% on a life cycle basis compared to conventional jet fuel.