Airbus And Cathay Invest US$70 Million To Accelerate SAF Growth

The agreement was announced in Hong Kong on the sidelines of the IATA World Sustainability Symposium © Airbus

Airbus and the Cathay Group (Cathay) have announced a joint investment of up to US$70 million. The goal is to speed up the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) across Asia and beyond. This marks another strong step towards cleaner, lower-carbon air travel.

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

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Under the new partnership, both companies will work together to identify and invest in key SAF projects. Each project will be reviewed for its commercial potential, technical readiness, and long-term production prospects. The aim is to scale up supply towards 2030 and beyond.

Expanding SAF production, however, demands close cooperation across the aviation chain. Policymakers, investors, producers, and airlines must all play a part. This co-investment reflects that shared commitment, with Airbus and Cathay uniting to accelerate capacity and create wider environmental impact.

"This agreement reflects the shared commitment of Airbus and Cathay to make a real difference," said Anand Stanley, President Asia Pacific, Airbus. "The production and distribution of affordable SAF at scale requires an unprecedented cross-sectoral approach. Our partnership with Cathay is a concrete example of how we catalyse production in the most suitable locations to serve our customers."

The collaboration will also focus on policy advocacy. Both companies aim to support measures that encourage SAF production and use across Asia. The region’s strong feedstock base, growing expertise, and busy aviation market make it ideal for progress.

Airbus and Cathay share a partnership dating back to 1989, when Cathay placed its first Airbus order. Today, the airline operates 86 Airbus aircraft, with more than 70 still to come.