Cathay further demonstrated today its steadfast commitment to contributing towards the decarbonisation of the aviation industry and establishing itself as a sustainability leader as it proudly welcomed the successful launch of the Hong Kong Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition (HKSAFC) as its co-initiator. The coalition is convened and chaired by Business Environment Council (BEC), along with 13 founding partners from the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) value chain.

In October 2023, the Hong Kong SAR Government highlighted the importance of SAF in its 2023 Policy Address, emphasising forward-looking planning to drive the use of SAF in Hong Kong. Cathay supports the Government’s intention to promote the supply of SAF. 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.

Liu Chun San, JP, Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics, said at the launch ceremony, “The Government fully endorses the direction of using SAF to decarbonise the aviation sector which helps maintaining the leading position of Hong Kong International Airport (“HKIA”) in green and sustainable development. Apart from the environmental benefits, ensuring the sufficient supply of SAF at HKIA would help consolidate Hong Kong’s international aviation hub status. 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.”

Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “Sustainability is a key focus for Cathay, and we are committed to achieving our carbon net-zero goal by 2050. 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.

“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.”

HKSAFC Chair and Chief Executive Officer of BEC Simon Ng said: “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. 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.”