Lufthansa’s Mixed Climate Progress: More Efficient Aircraft but Emissions Rise

The Lufthansa Group’s emissions rose by 16% in 2024, pushing the airline further off track from its goal to cut emissions in half by 2030. However, passenger-related air travel emissions dropped by 1%, the company said in its recently published annual report.

The company, which owns a number of airlines in Europe including Lufthansa, Swiss, and Austrian Airlines, told Skift it tracks passenger emissions separately to better understand the environmental impact of commercial flights.

The group said passenger air travel emissions cover everything from boarding to takeoff, cruising, landing, and taxiing at the airport. 

Emissions per passenger per kilometre was 87.5 grams in 2024, down from 88.8 the year before - even as the airline expanded routes and increased capacity by 9%. 

“The decrease in emissions stems from various factors, such as the use of newer and more fuel-saving aircraft, additional measures to increase fuel efficiency and improved aircraft fleet load factors,” a spokeswoman from Lufthansa Group told Skift.

Why Overall Emissions Increased

Lufthansa told Skift that overall emissions were higher because it also includes non-flight emissions.

Ground transportation, cargo, waste, the production of food, drinks and other products for flights all contribute to these emissions. Another area that causes a lot of ground emissions is the production of jet fuel and transporting it to aircraft. According to the Lufthansa Group annual report, emissions from all of these areas rose in 2024.

The company told Skift it is working to make improvements across all parts of its operation.

“The Lufthansa Group aims to achieve the greatest possible reduction in CO2 emissions from flying and is focusing on all levers that can make a significant contribution: from fleet modernization to the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), to continuous efficiency improvements in flight operations,” the spokeswoman from Lufthansa told Skift.

“With the help of technological innovations, smart flight planning and monitoring, improvements in aerodynamics and reductions in aircraft weights, the Lufthansa Group aims to use every drop of kerosene ever more efficiently.”

Counting on More Efficient Aircraft

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a report that newer more efficient aircraft could reduce emissions when compared to older models. 

Lufthansa Group said in its annual report that more modern and fuel-efficient aircraft will continue to be its focus in reducing emissions and that it is the “greatest leverage for reducing CO2 emissions in this decade.”

In 2024, Lufthansa Group brought in 18 new aircraft including five A350-1000.

These aircraft use advanced aerodynamics, lightweight materials such as carbon fibre, and more fuel-efficient engines to reduce their fuel consumption.

“These new aircraft have up to 30% lower fuel consumption levels and carbon emissions by comparison with their predecessor models” Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa, said in the group's annual report. 

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