Lufthansa Increases Flight Prices For Environment

Lufthansa has unveiled plans to increase its ticket pricing thanks to including a new environmental surcharge from January 1, 2025.

As part of the new plan, the Group would add the surcharge to all flights departing the EU, the UK, Norway, and Switzerland from tickets issued after June 26, 2024, for departure from January 1, 2025.

However, the environmental surcharge will greatly range from €1 to €72 per passenger. The rate will alter based on the route said passenger is flying on alongside the fare type that they have purchased.

Generally, the surcharge follows the implementation of a mandate by the EU. This mandate means all airlines must use a minimum of 2% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in their operations by 2025.

However, progressively, the EU wants greater implementation and is thus mandating progressive percentage increases up through 2050 when the hope is airlines will be utilising 70% sustainable aviation fuels.

For Lufthansa Group and others in the EU, the mandate approved in 2023 has meant the need to source SAF in the timeframe has increased pressures.

These pressures and, thus, increased costs mean the group has been left with no choice but to add a surcharge on flights. Lufthansa Group claims that it cannot operate with these mandates without increasing the cost of purchasing a ticket, and this will be done through the surcharge.

Lufthansa Group plans to invest billions each year in new technologies to help partners innovate and make sustainable flying easier and easier.

Additionally, Lufthansa Group says it will continue supporting global climate and weather research. The company highlights these initiatives to showcase its positive intentions. Still, despite all this, it reaffirms that introducing a surcharge is the only way to meet the EU mandate.