Airbus and Cathay Join Forces to Boost Sustainable Aviation Fuel

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Airbus and Cathay Group have announced a joint investment of up to 70 million US dollars aimed at accelerating the development and production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Asia and globally.

The agreement was presented in Hong Kong during the IATA World Sustainability Symposium, at a ceremony led by Alex McGowan, Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer of Cathay, and Anand Stanley, President of Airbus Asia-Pacific.

A Long-Term Commitment to Sustainability

Under the terms of the partnership, both companies will work together to identify, evaluate, and invest in projects that drive the expansion of SAF production towards 2030 and beyond.

These projects will be assessed based on their commercial viability, technological maturity, and long-term supply potential, with the goal of building a solid foundation for the sustainable growth of the industry.

Cross-Value Chain Collaboration

Increasing SAF production requires deep collaboration among all sector stakeholders, from public policy makers and investors to producers and consumers of this type of fuel.

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The agreement between Airbus and Cathay reflects this spirit of cooperation, as both companies join forces to accelerate production capacity and generate a real impact on aviation decarbonization.

Statements from the Leaders

“SAF remains the most significant factor for Cathay and for the entire airline industry in advancing towards our decarbonization goals,” said Alex McGowan, Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer of Cathay.

McGowan emphasized that this partnership with Airbus reinforces the airline’s commitment to building a more robust and scalable SAF industry and complements its strategy of investing in future production technologies and capabilities. He also noted that Cathay recently participated in the oneworld BEV SAF fund, in addition to continuing to expand the use of this fuel through collaborations with like-minded organizations.

For his part, Anand Stanley, President of Airbus Asia-Pacific, stated:

“This agreement reflects the shared commitment of Airbus and Cathay to make a real difference. The large-scale production and distribution of affordable SAF requires an unprecedented cross-sectoral approach. Our partnership with Cathay is a concrete example of how we are driving production in the most suitable locations to serve our customers.”

Promoting Sustainable Policies in Asia

The joint commitment also includes collaboration on promoting policies that favor the development of both the supply and demand for SAF across Asia.

The region has great potential in terms of raw material supply, production capacity, and a dynamic aviation market – factors that Airbus and Cathay aim to leverage to boost the adoption of sustainable fuel. Their goal: to help make SAF more accessible and affordable in this part of the world.

A Relationship Spanning Over Three Decades

Airbus and Cathay have a cooperative relationship dating back to 1989, when the airline placed its first order for Airbus aircraft. Currently, Cathay Group operates 86 aircraft from the European manufacturer and has more than 70 additional units on order for future delivery, reaffirming a strong and lasting relationship.

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