The Lufthansa Group has announced that it will be applying an environmental surcharge to all tickets issued from June 26, 2024, for flights departing the EU, the UK, Norway, and Switzerland from January 1, 2025, onwards.
The surcharge is aimed at paying for the increased usage of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and to cover additional costs derived from adjustments to the EU Emissions Trading S ystem (EU ETS) and the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
The exact amount levied this way will vary by route and fare type and will range from €1 to €72 per passenger. The surcharge will be quoted separately from the base fare when purchasing the ticket.
The EU’s “Fit for 55” program, which was approved by the European Parliament in September 2023, contains the ReFuelEU initiative, which mandates that all European airlines will need to use a minimum of 2% of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2025. This percentage is going to be progressively increased, reaching 6% in 2030 and 70% by 2050. This has forced airlines to scramble to secure scarce supplies of pricier SAF.
When making the announcement, Lufthansa Group reiterated its commitment to investing in sustainable technologies but also acknowledged that it will not be able to face additional costs without raising charges.