Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines to collaborate on sustainability initiatives including SAF
Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines announced June 5 that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a broad range of sustainability initiatives.
These collective efforts are aimed at advocating for the development and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the Asia-Pacific region, a critical decarbonization lever for the sector, and sharing best practices to boost sustainability performance.
The MOU was signed by Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam and Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on the sidelines of the 80th International Air Transport Association Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit.
The agreement, which focuses on two key areas, underscores both carriers’ commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and affirms their aspiration to help drive sustainability changes in the airline industry.
Firstly, Cathay and Singapore Airlines will jointly advocate for the greater use of SAF in the Asia-Pacific region.
Initiatives in this area will include raising public awareness about SAF’s critical role in decarbonizing aviation, advocating for supportive policies in the region, and promoting the creation of a standard global accounting and reporting framework to ensure the transparency and verifiability of emission reductions from the use of the fuel.
The airlines will also explore potential opportunities for joint procurement of SAF at selected locations.
These are aimed at boosting SAF production and supporting its wider adoption in the airline industry. The second area of focus will be the exchange of best practices to reduce single-use plastics, minimize waste, and improve energy efficiency in ground and cargo operations.
This will allow Cathay and Singapore Airlines to improve their sustainability performance and speed up the development and implementation of sustainable solutions in their operations.
“As part of our collaborative ethos of ‘greener together,’ we actively seek like-minded industry leaders for strategic partnerships in transitioning to sustainable aviation,” Lam said. “Our collaboration with Singapore Airlines aims to accelerate and support the development of the SAF supply chain in the region, fostering a reliable SAF ecosystem to enable the industry to achieve its long-term decarbonization goals. Cathay was one of the first airlines in Asia to set a target of 10 percent SAF for its total fuel consumption by 2030, and we are undertaking a multipronged approach to contribute to the aviation industry’s transition towards a greener future.”
Phong added, “Singapore Airlines is committed to embedding sustainability in all aspects of our operations. At the same time, we recognize that we cannot achieve our targets alone. Our partnership with Cathay signifies our mutual ambition to enhance collaboration in sustainability initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region. Together we are helping to set the foundation for a more sustainable aviation industry, and ensure that future generations continue to reap the benefits of air travel.”
