DB Schenker signs record-breaking commitment to Cathay’s corporate SAF program

Photo: Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific announced July 11 that DB Schenker is the latest member of the air-cargo community to join its corporate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) program.

With its commitment to reduce its carbon emissions through the program, DB Schenker has become the biggest contributor to the scheme to date.

The corporate SAF program was established in 2022 to help tackle climate change.

It enables members to purchase SAF for uplift on Cathay Pacific and Cathay Cargo flights from Hong Kong and other ports on the network.

By joining and committing to buy 878 tons of SAF (290,000 U.S. gallons), Cathay Pacific said DB Schenker has further demonstrated its commitment to reducing the climate impact of its air-cargo activities, which dates back to 2020 when it started to use SAF for a proportion of its transport volumes.

SAF is a crucial tool for the aviation industry to reduce emissions as it works towards its target of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Cathay Pacific has committed to 10 percent of its fuel needs being derived from SAF by 2030.

The project runs alongside Cathay Cargo’s Fly Greener program, which offers high-quality carbon offsetting through Gold Standard-certified community and environmental projects.

The Cathay Group also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore Airlines to collaborate on a variety of initiatives to promote the development and take-up of SAF in the Asia-Pacific region, and to highlight SAF’s central role in the decarbonization of aviation.

Ahead of that, Cathay Cargo has secured orders for new next-generation Airbus A350F freighters, which offer greater fuel economy.

“We are delighted to welcome DB Schenker as the newest member of the Cathay corporate SAF program—and the biggest contributor to date,” said Tom Owen, the director of cargo at Cathay Pacific. “It is great to have this level of support from such an important player in the air-cargo industry to work with us in decarbonizing aviation. By replacing conventional jet fuel with sustainable aviation fuel, DB Schenker’s commitment is the equivalent of saving more than 2,600 tons in CO2 emissions. This powerfully conveys the message that there is real and growing demand for SAF and this partnership is testament to the collaborative ethos of ‘Greener Together,’ as we move one step closer to the goal of a more sustainable air-cargo industry.”

Thorsten Meincke, a global board member for air and ocean freight at DB Schenker, added, "By partnering with Cathay Pacific on SAF, we are reinforcing our sustainability commitment and leadership in the skies. The collaboration underlines our environmental stewardship in air cargo and supports the global push for SAF by increasing demand for it across more regions across the globe, which will ultimately contribute to a more sustainable future."

Working with different fuel-supplier partners, Cathay has been able to uplift SAF at its Hong Kong hub and other ports across its network.

The SAF used for the arrangement with DB Schenker is derived from waste cooking oil and animal fats.

As part of the program, the airline issues members with documentation to prove their scope 3 emissions reductions from their flights using SAF.

Depending on the fuel’s feedstock and production process, SAF can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 80 percent on a lifecycle basis compared to conventional jet fuel.