DHL Express and the Cathay Group have signed a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) agreement aimed at accelerating SAF adoption and production in Asia’s air cargo sector.

Under the deal, Cathay will supply DHL Express with 2,400 tonnes of SAF for international flights operated by its subsidiary, Air Hong Kong, from Seoul Incheon, Tokyo Narita and Singapore Changi airports.

The partnership will run through 2025 and is expected to cut lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by around 7,190 tonnes – equivalent to more than 100 Airbus A330 freighter flights from Hong Kong to Singapore.

Peter Bardens, DHL Express senior vice president for network operations and aviation, said: “SAF currently accounts for less than 1% of the total global jet fuel consumption, yet air transport is one of our biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Our decision to expand our SAF usage in Asia with Cathay is another important step that we have taken to drive momentum in SAF production and demand.

“DHL Express is at the forefront of SAF adoption, and we look forward to seeing more partners and customers join us on this journey to build a more robust SAF ecosystem in Asia.”

The agreement marks the first SAF uplift for Air Hong Kong flights and builds on a relationship spanning more than two decades between DHL Express and the Cathay Group.

Tom Owen, Cathay director cargo, said: “This partnership marks the first SAF uplift on Air Hong Kong flights, a key milestone for Cathay as we continue to expand the SAF usage across our global network. SAF remains a core pillar of our strategy to address our carbon emissions, and collaboration is essential to scaling its use.”

DHL Express now joins Cathay’s Corporate SAF Programme, launched in 2022 to support corporate partners in cutting emissions from business travel and airfreight. In 2024, the initiative enabled the use of more than 6,000 tonnes of SAF with 16 corporate partners.

Cathay has been expanding its SAF footprint across Asia, with recent supply agreements in Hong Kong, South Korea and mainland China. DHL Express has also been increasing its global SAF use, signing long-term deals with Neste, bp, World Energy and Cosmo Oil Marketing.

Both companies say the agreement reinforces their joint ambition to develop a resilient regional SAF ecosystem and advance low-carbon air logistics.

READ MORE NEWS: Asia–Americas demand lifts Cathay Cargo volumes