Lufthansa Group Introduces Environmental Cost Surcharge

Starting from June 26, 2024, the Lufthansa Group will implement an Environmental Cost Surcharge on all tickets issued for flights departing from January 1, 2025. This surcharge applies to flights departing from the 27 EU countries, the UK, Norway, and Switzerland.

Details of the Environmental Cost Surcharge

Purpose and Scope

The surcharge is designed to cover the rising costs associated with regulatory environmental requirements, including:

• The statutory blending quota of 2% for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from January 1, 2025
• Adjustments to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)
• Other regulatory environmental costs such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)

Surcharge Amount

The surcharge will vary based on the flight route and fare, ranging from 1 euro to 72 euros. The exact amount will be detailed on the Lufthansa Group Airlines booking pages.

Investment in Sustainable Aviation

Commitment to Sustainability

Lufthansa Group invests billions annually in new technologies and innovations to make flying more sustainable. These investments include accelerated fleet modernization, optimization of flight operations, and the use of SAF. The group is also active in global climate and weather research.

Climate Protection Targets

Lufthansa aims for a neutral CO₂ balance by 2050 and plans to halve its net CO₂ emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 through reduction and compensation measures. The new Environmental Cost Surcharge will help cover some of the costs associated with these efforts.

Background Information

SAF Quotas and Costs

Under the EU's "Fit for 55" climate protection program, mandatory SAF blending quotas will increase over time, leading to significant additional costs for the Lufthansa Group. The quotas are set at:

• 2% from 2025
• 6% from 2030
• 20% from 2035
• 70% from 2050

EU-ETS and Emission Certificates

Since 2012, CO₂ emissions in aviation have been regulated under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which requires the purchase of emission certificates. Lufthansa Group also complies with emission trading systems in Switzerland (CH-ETS) and the UK (UK-ETS).

CORSIA Implementation

The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) offsets growth-related CO₂ emissions in international aviation. From 2024 to 2035, CORSIA will offset 85% of the emissions from 2019, adding to the financial burden on airlines.