In Thailand, Cathay Pacific planted 999 mangrove trees

Mangrove forests, which limit the height and velocity of oncoming waves, help to mitigate tsunamis. They also serve as a home for a wide variety of flora and animals.

The programme was unveiled last year, with the airline offering to plant one tree for every plane ticket booked in a month. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flag carrier, has planted 999 mangrove trees in the Khlong Khon Mangrove Forest in Samut Songkram, central Thailand, as part of their “1 Ticket, 1 Tree” effort. The 999 saplings were planted last week by a group of roughly 50 volunteers, including Cathay Pacific workers and trade agent partners.

The airline anticipates that by planting trees, it will be able to offset at least some of the carbon emissions produced by its 186 planes. In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, mangrove forests also serve as a natural tsunami barrier. The airline has vowed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in order to achieve “greener aviation.” Cathay Pacific’s goal is to achieve “carbon neutrality.”


The chairman of the Klong Khon Mangrove Forest Center said, “We are happy to have good corporate citizens such as Cathay Pacific on board our efforts to protect and restore our mangrove forests.” Every tree planted will give considerable benefits to local communities and our ecology now and in the future, as these forests are vital for coastal protection and carbon reduction.”


The airline is “one of the first airlines in Asia to define a timeframe for reaching carbon neutrality,” according to its website. The tree-planting ceremony was attended by Keri Lui, Cathay Pacific’s Thailand and Myanmar Country Manager…

“It’s an honor for us to be able to help Thailand’s mangrove restoration efforts in such a substantial way.” When it comes to protecting the environment, every effort counts, and we are proud to be leading the way toward a more sustainable future while also giving back to the communities we serve. We are grateful to our customers for flying with us in support of this project.”


In Thailand, the number 999 is significant. Nine is pronounced the same as “Gao,” the Thai word for “progress.”