Cathay Pacific is celebrating two major wins at the Air Transport World (ATW) 51st Annual Airline Industry Achievement Awards. The airline received the prestigious Eco-Airline of the Year award, a first for any Asian airline. Cathay Cargo also earned the title of Cargo Operator of the Year, an honor it previously received in 2023.
These awards highlight Cathay Pacific’s commitment to both environmental sustainability and cargo excellence. “Sustainability is at the core of Cathay’s purpose — to move people forward in life,” said Cathay General Manager Sustainability Grace Cheung. “This recognition highlights the power of collaboration and our commitment to bringing together our people, customers, suppliers, business partners, regulators, and communities for a more sustainable future.”
A Commitment to Sustainability
Cathay Pacific aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The airline is actively transitioning to more sustainable practices, including the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In 2022, Cathay Pacific launched its Corporate SAF Program, enabling corporate partners to reduce their emissions. The program saw record participation in 2024, with commitments for over 6,050 metric tonnes of SAF.
Cathay Pacific also co-founded the Hong Kong SAF Coalition with the Business Environmental Council (BEC) to advocate for SAF development in Hong Kong. The airline is focused on reducing single-use plastics, with a goal of cutting passenger-facing items from 7.7 pieces per passenger in 2019 to 1.5 pieces by the end of 2025. As of the end of 2024, Cathay Pacific had reduced its single-use plastic usage to 2.6 pieces per passenger.
To further reduce its environmental impact, Cathay Pacific has implemented measures to improve inflight recycling of water bottles. Since July 2024, all bottled water used on Cathay Pacific flights departing Hong Kong has been packaged in 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Cargo Excellence
Cathay Cargo’s Director Cargo, Tom Owen, expressed pride in the airline’s achievement. “We are honored to receive the prestigious title of Cargo Operator of the Year, the second time in three years,” he said. “This achievement reflects the unwavering dedication of our team and our role in maintaining Hong Kong’s status as a leading global air cargo hub.”
Cathay Cargo is committed to innovation and providing best-in-class services. The airline’s intermodal services between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Dongguan are a key example. These services streamline cargo transport and enhance connectivity in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Cathay Cargo has also made strides in technology and efficiency. In 2024, the airline introduced new application programming interfaces (API) for its Click & Ship booking platform and enhanced its Cathay Courier service with piece-level tracking.
Earlier this year, Cathay Cargo became the first carrier to adopt IATA’s ONE Record data protocol. Both Cathay Cargo and the Cathay Cargo Terminal in Hong Kong hold the full set of IATA Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certifications and the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) certificate.
Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau praised the Cathay team for their contributions to the airline’s success. “Cargo has long been an important line of business for Cathay, and as the largest cargo operator at the world’s busiest cargo airport, we are committed to doing our part to strengthen Hong Kong’s position at the forefront of the global cargo industry,” she said.
These ATW awards add to Cathay Pacific’s list of accolades. The airline was recently ranked among the world’s top five airlines by Skytrax and AirlineRatings. Its Economy class was also named the world’s best.
