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according to many industry experts. But coming out from COVID I think it’s too early to say, but my view is we
we’ve been rebuilding well and we are rebuilding our financials have to find a way, and I think by definition
in a healthy way. So now I think we have the ability and commit- this is a new area. No one had experience this
ment to catch up on our investment. by definition. So, it is bound to be hard. But
I think from a Cathay perspective, we want
So, this year and next year we’ll be making a lot of investment to play a leadership part, especially in Asia
commitment for the future. When it comes to products, recently, Pacific. It, maybe in couple of years there may
the first product launch we’re going to have is sometime in quar- be new breakthrough. As I mentioned, our
ter two next year. We are going to retrofit our 777-300ER fleet country, China, I still have hope that they will
with a new business class cabin, and we have named the new bring breakthrough in terms of SAF for the
product Aria Suite. We’re all very excited about that. And we’ll future.
have a new premium economy cabin as well. All the 777-300ER
for the future will be of a three-class configuration.
Do you think that the governments should

From 2025, we’re going to put our new first class cabin and get involved? Do you think we need some
government regulation and structure to level
seat onto the 777-9. So, all the 777-9 will be configured with a the playing field?
four-class configuration, First, Business, Premium Economy and
Economy. And then following that, we are actively looking at
also our regional fleet, in particular A330 and planning to look First of all, as I mentioned, this climate change
at retrofit of those products as well. So, I think step by step we within aviation is not just an airline issue. It
will be making more and more investment on our inflight cabin would take many stakeholders including the
products. Similarly, for lounges, I’m glad to report that for now government to get involved. But in terms of
we have reopened all our lounges worldwide. In fact, the last how the government should involve, there are
one will be San Francisco next week. So by end of this month different ways. I think setting some penalty
(August) we will have reopened all the lounges worldwide. But is one way and it should be the last resort
we will continue to invest in our lounges, keep them fresh and from my perspective. I think the government’s
renovate where we need to, including those flagship lounges in involvement should be more on incentivizing
Hong Kong. the industry, incentivizing production of SAF
and all that. So yeah, definitely the govern-
Moving forward, climate change is now a real hot button issue. ment should be involved, but I think they
Are you happy with where Cathay Pacific is in this space, as far should play a more incentivizing, facilitating-
as your sustainability program is concerned?

Hong Kong. Has it settled down now for tour-
Definitely. As you know, we have made a commitment to go for ists and travelers? Certainly, it’s out of the
net carbon zero by 2050, and it’s not going to be an easy target news but there’s still a lingering perception
to hit. And I know you’re very familiar with this topic, and the in some quarters that there’s still some prob-
main vehicle for aviation to achieve that is through SAF. And over lems. What would you say to that?
the past few years, we have made a lot of efforts to understand
the market, to secure supply, et cetera. We even make a small
investment into a company called Fulcrum and whereby we also Yes, Hong Kong had a few tough years. I think
come with a offtake agreement with them, which will provide all of us are aware of that, but I must say
around two per cent of our fuel usage to be procured from SAF now Hong Kong is really stable from a busi-
from that in due course. But I would say it hasn’t been easy, espe- ness environment angle and we are seeing
cially in this part of the world in Asia Pacific, we are struggling to tourism coming back. There are still some
find enough supply of SAF, and it’s proven to be really challeng- wrong perceptions about Hong Kong that
ing. And I would say very importantly, this is not just a Cathay we need to correct, but as more and more
pursuit. It’s not even, just only an airline pursuit. I think all the people visit Hong Kong for themselves and
players in our society will have to play along. The governments, see for themselves, they will find that actually,
the OEMs, the fuel companies, everyone needs to play a part to Hong Kong is back to normal, and is still a
make it work. But I’m very hopeful that Asia will catch up, and I’m very sound place to visit for leisure purposes
hoping that our country, China, would have some breakthrough and for business purposes. But we need to
on this front in terms of SAF. I know the authorities and different do more in turning around that perception
entities, they are looking at this topic very seriously and yeah, and do a better job in storytelling on behalf
we look forward to be part of it, and then see breakthrough in of Hong Kong. We are committed to investing
the availability of SAF in this part of the world. in the long-term future of the Group and the
Hong Kong international aviation hub, which
Do you think as an industry that we’ll get to that net zero by is expected to grow exponentially with the
2050? operation of the three runways.

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