The Cathay Pacific Group recently released its 2020 Sustainable Development Report that summarizes the initiatives that were brought about by the pandemic, including new safety measures and policies introduced to support its customers and employees through the global health crisis. The report also points at the progress made in reducing carbon footprint, along with measures taken to tackle operational sustainability matters.
One of the key focal points for Cathay Pacific is to embrace its responsibility to lead the charge toward sustainable aviation and ensure future generations can experience the joy of travel. The Hong Kong-based airline announced its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, becoming one of the first Asian airlines to establish a timeline for making carbon neutrality a reality.
Mark Sutch, Cathay Pacific’s regional general manager — South Asia, Middle East and Africa, said: “While we wade through the detrimental impact of the pandemic, mitigating climate charge and finding solutions for sustainable aviation has also been an imminent focus for the business. We endeavor to operate in a sustainable manner and incorporate multiple social and environment friendly practices into all aspects of our business.”
Below are the key focus areas and progress made so far:
Safety: The airline continues to put safety at the forefront for its employees, customers and other stakeholders. In 2020, Cathay Pacific introduced a port restart process enabling the safe return of passengers and employees along with implementing a slew of COVID-19-related safety precautions for its passengers and people.
Climate change: The airline made a commitment in 2020 to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, thus aligning the initiatives with both the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. While the airline strategized its fleet planning by taking delivery of 10 new fuel-efficient aircrafts last year, it also continues to devise plans to meet its goals and strengthen its carbon off-set solutions through its Fly Greener program, along with investing in sustainable aviation fuel.
Sustainability in operations: Cathay Pacific aims to embed an environmentally responsible mindset in its culture and sustainable practices across operations. It has taken a holistic approach to reducing waste and the consumption of natural resources by exploring alternative materials. In 2020, the airline removed more than 43 million pieces or 11 percent single-use plastic items and continues to work toward its target of reducing single-use plastics usage by 50 percent from baseline by the end of 2022.
