Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific in call for action on switch to green aviation fuel

Cathay says it has adopted an ‘ambitious’ goal of making sustainable aviation fuel 10 per cent of its total consumption by 2030

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Cathay’s sustainable aviation fuel usage was just 0.03 per cent by the end of last year because of the limited global supply, according to the airline. Photo: May Tse

Published: 7:00am, 30 Aug 2024Updated: 8:57am, 30 Aug 2024

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has urged the government to come up with a plan to help local airlines make the switch to green fuel, including subsidies or logistics support, for moving towards carbon neutrality goals amid supply shortages.

Grace Cheung, the carrier’s general manager for sustainability, made the call on Thursday as Cathay adopted an “ambitious” goal of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for 10 per cent of its total consumption by 2030, as part of its commitment to help the city achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

But the airline’s SAF usage was just 0.03 per cent by the end of last year because of the limited global supply, Cheung said. The government also lacked a road map for development of the eco-friendly jet fuel.

“The 10 per cent actually is a very ambitious target considering last year the actual usage was only 0.2 per cent globally. So everyone is working very hard and challenges remain. We need all the support we can get,” she said.

“I think what’s important is for the government to have that long-term view and a holistic approach for whatever policy, road map that they are coming up with.

“It’s not just for the next year or for 2030, but 2050 for the whole industry.”