Hong Kong-based Cathay Cargo, a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific airline, has bagged the ‘Air Cargo Sustainability Leader of the Year’ award at Air Cargo India 2024.

In a press statement, Cathay says that the airline received the award for its array of initiatives including aim to achieve NetZero carbon emissions by 2050, pioneering Corporate SAF Programme, and its roadmap to making Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) account for 10 pc of its total fuel consumption by 2030 and maintaining a proactive CSR through initiatives like ‘Greener Together’.

The statement adds that Director of Cathay Cargo, Tom Owen accepted the award that recognises Cathay Cargo’s dedication to sustainability and commitment to creating a greener future.

Tom Owen

“Globally, aviation contributes to about 2 pc of carbon emissions and we have a role to play in combating climate change. To this end, we are constantly exploring solutions that will help create a more sustainable future. This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of our team aimed at bringing us closer to our vision of being the world’s Most Sustainable Cargo Airline,” says Owen.

The statement adds that Cathay Cargo has also integrated its voluntary carbon-offset program Fly Greener into its online booking platform Click & Ship to enable customers to effortlessly offset CO2 emissions with a single click.

Cathay says that it has also introduced more fuel-efficient aircraft into its fleet, such as the Airbus A350, A321neo and Boeing 777-9X models scheduled to be delivered from 2025.

According to the airline, these aircraft promise 20 pc greater efficiency than their predecessors, resulting in substantial reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Equipped with cutting-edge Rolls-Royce Trent-XWB97 engines, these aircraft offer fuel consumption and emissions reductions of up to 40 pc compared to older models like the 747F, while also outperforming competitors in efficiency.