Cathay Pacific has joined forces with Sinopec (China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation) to refuel flights departing from Hong Kong International Airport with SAF (sustainable aviation fuel).
First Batch at Hong Kong International Airport
The first batch of SAF to leave Hong Kong International Airport was produced by Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company (ZRCC) and was uplifted in April of this year. Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company is a key producer of SAF in Asia and is at the forefront of independently manufacturing bio-jet fuel technology.
The initial batch from Hong Kong International Airport was produced from used cooking oil through a process known as HEFA (meaning using hydrotreated esters and fatty acids), and was also recognised by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) as being able to decrease the lifecycle carbon emissions by around 80%, compared to the standard conventional jet fuel.
Last year, two batches were uplifted by Cathay Pacific at Amsterdam Airport Schipol and London Heathrow Airport.
What is SAF?
SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) is a sustainable substitute fuel made from waste materials and other renewable carbon sources. Cathay Pacific has shown that SAF can hugely decrease carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels, therefore helping to address the environmental impact that the aviation industry currently has. The cooperation between Cathay Pacific and Sinopec shows the capacity for further collaboration between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong in the sustainable aviation fuel supply chain.
Cathay General Manager Sustainability, Grace Cheung, said:
“Our purchase and use of SAF products from ZRCC goes beyond just a fuel uplift; it marks our initiative to expand the upstream and downstream value chain of SAF produced in the Chinese Mainland. Through cooperation with Sinopec, we hope to support greater adoption of SAF produced in the Chinese Mainland and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.”
Future Prospects
SAF production and adoption has increased across Asia in recent years, Cathay Pacific is working with different partners to expand the use of SAF across the continent. In March of this year, the airline reached an agreement with a fuel supplier SK Energy, who will supply SAF to Cathay Pacific for 2 years, from 2025 to 2027, in South Korea. Simultaneously, the airline will continue to make use of their experience and knowledge to support Hong Kong scale up its usage with a supportive police to help strengthen Hong Kong International Airport’s status as a leading aviation hub.
This is not Cathay Pacific’s first step towards sustainability as they revealed their 2024 sustainability achievements earlier this year, with a 15% increase in fuel efficiently, and a 20% reduction of onboard waste.
What do you think of Cathay Pacific’s step towards sustainability? Let us know!
