Cathay Cargo commemorates DB Schenker’s membership in corporate SAF program with signing ceremony

From left, Susanne Stemmer, DB Schenker’s vice president of global carrier relations, and Tom Owen, Cathay’s cargo director, celebrated the new partnership during a signing ceremony at the airline’s Cathay City headquarters. (Photo: Cathay Cargo)

Cathay Cargo and DB Schenker jointly held a signing ceremony Oct. 8 at the airline’s Cathay City headquarters to mark the global forwarder’s membership of Cathay’s corporate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) program.

Attended by Tom Owen, Cathay’s director of cargo, and Susanne Stemmer, DB Schenker’s vice president of global carrier relations, the ceremony marked DB Schenker’s stride forward in July to become the biggest contributor to the program, underscoring both parties’ commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

“We are delighted to welcome DB Schenker here not only as the newest member of the Cathay corporate SAF program, but also as its biggest contributor,” Owen said at the ceremony. “It is great to have this level of support from such an important player in the air-cargo industry as we work together to decarbonize aviation. This ceremony marks our appreciation for DB Schenker’s significant contribution to our collective efforts to fly greener together.”

The Cathay corporate SAF program was established in 2022 to help tackle climate change.

It enables members to purchase SAF for uplift on Cathay Pacific and Cathay Cargo flights from Hong Kong and other ports on the network.

By joining and committing to buy 878 metric tons (290,000 gallons) of SAF, DB Schenker will help reduce more than 2,600 tons in carbon emissions.

SAF, which can reduce more than 80 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions on a lifecycle basis compared to conventional jet fuel, is a crucial tool for the aviation industry to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

As such, Cathay Pacific and Cathay Cargo have committed to using SAF for 10 percent of their jet-fuel consumption by 2030.

The initiative goes hand in hand with Cathay Cargo’s Fly Greener program, which offers carbon offsetting through Gold Standard-certified community and environmental projects.

DB Schenker first adopted SAF for a proportion of its transport volumes in 2020 as part of its carbon-reduction program.

“SAF is making change possible already today,” said Alexander Mentgen, DB Schenker’s global air-freight sustainability manager. “Our new SAF alliance with Cathay Cargo enhances our sustainability commitment and leadership in the skies.”

Stemmer added, “We are very excited about this collaboration with Cathay Cargo, which will contribute to a more sustainable future for our industry and enhance our long-lasting global partnership with Cathay.”