In a move underscoring Asia’s gradual but growing role in the global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market, DHL Express and the Cathay Group have signed a new supply agreement that will see 2,400 metric tons of SAF used on Air Hong Kong freighter flights from Seoul, Tokyo and Singapore. The deal, announced in Hong Kong and Singapore on 13 August, highlights how regional carriers and logistics providers are beginning to test the commercial and policy frameworks necessary to scale SAF in a market still defined by limited production and high costs.
The partnership is expected to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by about 7,190 metric tons – roughly equivalent to more than 100 Hong Kong–Singapore freighter flights on an Airbus 330. While modest compared to the global aviation sector’s fuel consumption, the agreement signals intent: to create reliable regional demand and push governments, refiners and financial institutions towards broader adoption of cleaner fuels in Asian aviation.
