Learn more about our approach to sustainability with
Contribute to our Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and earn Asia Miles
At Cathay Pacific, we are on a mission to move people forward in life while working to address our environmental impacts associated with flying. One of the solutions supporting us today is . That’s why we are working with customers like you to join us in supporting the scale up of SAF adoption through . As a Cathay member, you’ll also earn Asia Miles when you participate. .
Enter your travel details and get started
Carbon calculator app
The Carbon Calculation App is loading. Please wait.
FAQ
What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
“Sustainable Aviation Fuel” is an industry term used to refer to alternative to fossil-based jet fuel. It is defined in the as aviation fuels that are either synthetic aviation fuels, aviation biofuels or recycled carbon aviation fuels. It is a drop-in fuel substitution, meaning it can be safely blended with conventional jet fuel and used in today's aircraft engines without modifications, making it a possible solution available today to help lower the environmental impact of flying.
SAF is expected to play . When burned, SAF produces carbon dioxide at levels similar to conventional aviation fuels, but the carbon dioxide released is already part of the natural carbon cycle, rather than being extracted from the earth specifically for creating aviation fuel. This results in a reduction in carbon emissions comparing to fossil-based jet fuel. Take reference to the SAF procured by Cathay Pacific in 2024, which were all certified by international standards such as and , the SAF has a weighted average lifecycle carbon emission* reduction at around 80%.
A major challenge is that SAF availability remains low globally, and . Your contribution to this programme can help accelerate the adoption of SAF within Cathay Pacific network.
*The weighted average lifecycle carbon emission is an estimated percentage reduction in carbon emissions associated with SAF compared to conventional jet fuel on a lifecycle basis. The estimation is derived using a as a comparator. The calculation incorporates the emissions reduction of each batch of SAF, weighted by the proportion of the unblended SAF quantity.
What is this programme?
This programme, developed by Cathay Pacific, allows passengers to estimate the carbon emissions associated with their specific flight(s)* and make voluntary contributions by purchasing SAF attributes.
A major challenge is that SAF availability remains low globally, and Passengers’ voluntary contributions through this programme are used by Cathay Pacific to purchase additional SAF beyond mandatory requirements. With both Cathay Pacific and passenger contributions, we are supporting the scaling of SAF within Cathay Pacific network.
The service is hosted by Chooose™. Chooose builds software to enable both individuals and organisations to understand their carbon emissions and make more informed decisions. For more information, please visit
*Please note your purchase of SAF attributes will not directly reduce the emissions associated with your specific flight(s). For more details, please refer to the session - ‘Will my SAF contribution be used to power my flight?’
How do I earn Asia Miles as I contribute to this programme?
Cathay members based in specific countries/regions will earn 1 Asia Miles for every HK$ 1 contributed to this programme.
Each member can earn a maximum of 200,000 Asia Miles per calendar year through one or multiple SAF contributions. If you choose to contribute beyond the cap (200,000 Asia Miles), your SAF contribution will still be recognised but you will not be able to accrue additional Asia Miles.
Asia Miles earned will be credited to your Cathay membership account within 8 weeks upon completing the transaction.
For further details and eligible country/ region list, please refer to the
What are SAF attributes?
SAF attributes are the associated environmental attributes derived from a given amount of unblended, physical SAF that Cathay Pacific has flown on or will fly which replaces a given amount of fossil-based jet fuel. SAF attributes is measured in CO2e, which is .
SAF attributes in this programme are calculated as follows: The jet fuel baseline emissions are calculated based on the as indicated on certificates. The SAF emissions are calculated based on the specific LCA value from the specific batch delivery, the actual or and . In order to get the SAF attributes, the SAF emissions are subtracted from the jet fuel baseline emissions. The SAF attributes are calculated based on these parameters. It represents an estimated emission impact associated with the defined total neat SAF quantity. The industry practice allows for differences in the underlying parameters used in reductions calculations.
Will my SAF contribution be used to power my flight?
The unblended, physical SAF associated with SAF attributes you are purchasing has been/ will be blended with conventional fuel before delivering to airports for use. As of today, SAF production and infrastructure — including blending, distribution, and refueling — are still limited and not available at all airports across our network.
To avoid unnecessary emissions from transporting fuel, the blended SAF has been/ will be used on flights departing from airports that have the required SAF infrastructure in place, such as the SAF blending and refueling infrastructure. As there is no dedicated SAF pipeline that sends SAF to specific aircraft, Cathay Pacific cannot guarantee that SAF will be used on your specific flight.
However, your purchase enables Cathay Pacific to scale up our overall use of SAF usage, helping to address the environmental impacts associated with flying.
The purchased SAF environmental attributes can be credited to you in accordance with the .
Please also note that your purchase of SAF attributes will not directly reduce the emissions associated with your specific flight(s).
Am I paying for Cathay Pacific's SAF usage?
Cathay Pacific covers the cost of mandated SAF usage in certain airports where regulations require it, such as those in the UK and EU, as well as .
Passengers’ voluntary contributions through this programme are used by Cathay Pacific to purchase additional SAF beyond the mandatory requirements and our own voluntary SAF usage. With both Cathay Pacific and passenger contributions, we are supporting the scaling of SAF within Cathay Pacific network.
All Cathay Pacific’s SAF usage, including those through this programme, will be audited by third party with details disclosed in our annual .
How are emissions estimated?
Emission estimations are based on the IATA CO2 Connect Emissions Calculator which follows the to calculate the estimated emissions. The methodology takes into account multiple parameters including aircraft fuel consumption, flight time, seat configuration, cabin class, aircraft type, and historical load factors. IATA collects and uses primary data from airlines participating in the CO2 Connect initiative, such as Cathay Pacific, on a recurring basis and uses industry average values for non-participating airlines.
Calculation results show estimated carbon emissions only and are offered for informative purposes only. They may not represent the actual emissions generated from your flying, which can vary based on a wide range of factors.
For more information, please visit IATA CO2 Connect’s Frequently Asked Questions.
How do Chooose and IATA partner on CO2 Connect?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Chooose partner to integrate data produced by IATA CO2 Connect into Chooose solutions. With data from CO2 Connect, Chooose offers its airline partners and corporate customers emissions data based on real operational inputs, including aircraft-type-specific fuel consumption, provided by over 70 airlines to CO2 Connect. Chooose’s airline partners and corporate customers will have the option of including CO2 Connect emissions data into their Chooose Platform solutions.
