Cathay and Airbus form co-investment partnership for scaling sustainable aviation fuel adoption

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

Under the partnership, both companies will collaborate to identify, assess, and invest in projects that advance the scale-up of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production through 2030 and beyond. Each project will be evaluated based on factors such as commercial feasibility, technological readiness, and long-term offtake potential.

Cathay’s Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer, Alex McGowan, said that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) remains the most important driver for Cathay and the broader aviation industry to achieve shared decarbonisation goals. The co-investment partnership with Airbus reinforces Cathay’s commitment to developing a scalable SAF industry in the near term and aligns with its wider strategy of investing in technologies and production capacity that can transform the industry over time. This includes Cathay’s participation in the recently launched oneworld BEV SAF Fund, while also expanding SAF usage through partnerships with like-minded organisations.

Airbus President Asia Pacific, Anand Stanley, said the agreement reflects the shared commitment of Airbus and Cathay to drive real progress. He noted that large-scale production and distribution of affordable SAF require collaboration across multiple sectors, and that this partnership serves as a concrete example of catalysing production in key locations to serve customers effectively.

The partnership also includes joint efforts to advocate for supportive SAF policies across Asia, covering both supply and demand. With the region’s strong potential in feedstock availability, production capacity, and its dynamic aviation market, Cathay and Airbus plan to leverage their global experience to help shape policies that make SAF more accessible and affordable.

Last month, Cathay also joined as a launch investor in the oneworld BEV SAF Fund, a joint initiative with other oneworld member airlines and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, the climate investment firm founded by Bill Gates. The fund focuses on next-generation SAF technologies with strong scalability and cost-reduction potential. The Cathay–Airbus partnership complements this initiative by targeting more mature SAF opportunities to boost near- and mid-term supply.

Cathay and Airbus have enjoyed a long-standing partnership since 1989, when the airline placed its first order for Airbus aircraft. Today, the Cathay Group operates more than 85 Airbus aircraft, with over 70 additional units scheduled for future delivery.