- Lufthansa Group Airlines to offer the successful Green Fares on its worldwide route network from 4 December
- Included CO2 offsetting through the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and contribution to climate protection projects enables more sustainable flying
- Over two million guests have booked a Green Fare ticket since its introduction
Austrian Airlines and the Lufthansa Group are expanding the Green Fare tariff for more sustainable flying to long-haul flights and thus to the global route network. The Green Fares will be bookable on more than 850,000 flights per year and in all travel classes from 4 December. The fare option already includes the offsetting of individual flight-related CO2 emissions. The Green Fares are part of the Lufthansa Group’s broad portfolio of more sustainable travel offers, which the company is continuously expanding.
As the first airline group worldwide, the Lufthansa Group has been offering Green Fares for short and medium-haul routes for about two years. Following a successful test run on selected intercontinental routes, the fare can now be booked regularly on long-haul routes. The Green Fares are available on flights operated by Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines and Air Dolomiti. The only exceptions are flights operated by other airlines and individual routings in selected traffic areas of joint venture partners.
Since the launch of Green Fares in February 2023, more than two million Lufthansa Group passengers have already opted for the tariff and offset almost 190,000 tons of CO2 by offsetting their flight-related CO2 emissions. This amount corresponds to the CO2 emissions of more than 1,400 flights from Vienna to New York with a Boeing B787.
What are the Green Fares?
The Green Fare can be selected right at the start of the flight booking process and already includes full offsetting of the individual, flight-related CO2 emissions: through the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and a contribution to the Lufthansa Group’s high-quality climate project portfolio. The composition of the two components differs depending on the distance of the route. For flights within Europe and to North Africa, the following applies: a 20 percent reduction in CO2 emissions is achieved through SAF, while the remaining 80 percent is offset through climate protection projects. On intercontinental routes, 10 percent of CO2 emissions are reduced through SAF and the remaining 90 percent are offset through contributions to climate projects. The Green Fares tariff also offers additional miles and points, as well as the option to rebook free of charge.
Passengers can opt for CO2 offsetting with other fares as well: during the booking process, after completing it in their personal booking area, and even after the flight has already taken place. Customers can choose between different packages, each of which offers full offsetting of CO2 emissions through the use of SAF and a contribution to climate protection projects. Currently, around four percent of the Lufthansa Group passengers use an option for more sustainable flying.
Background: CO2 reduction with SAF & the Lufthansa Group climate project portfolio
There is no refueling of individual flights with pure SAF. As a so-called “drop-in” fuel, SAF is compatible with fossil kerosene and can be blended with it without any problems. Before being transported to the airport, SAF is mixed with fossil aviation fuel (blending) and then fed into the airport infrastructure. The Lufthansa Group ensures that the amount of SAF required to offset individual CO2 emissions is fed into the Lufthansa Group’s flight operations within six months of purchase. Over its entire life cycle, the SAF from biogenic residues used by the Lufthansa Group has a CO2 footprint that is around 80 percent lower than that of conventional kerosene made from fossil crude oil.
The Lufthansa Group’s CO2 offsetting portfolio currently includes 19 projects from the providers myclimate, Climate Austria, SQUAKE and ClimatePartner. Lufthansa Group passengers contribute to the overall portfolio and not to individual projects in the portfolio. All projects are certified according to the highest available standards. For example, the Lufthansa Group uses Gold Standard certificates. This standard is recommended by the German Federal Environment Agency, among others. The portfolio also includes four technology-based projects. In this way, the Lufthansa Group aims to promote the development of the CO2 offsetting market towards new technologies and offers with long-term commitment of CO2.
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