Monday, June 23, 2025

In a significant move towards sustainability, Lufthansa Group and Airbus have partnered to introduce a customised version of the “Sustainable Corporate Value Fare” designed to reduce carbon emissions from business travel. The collaboration aims to tackle one of the most pressing issues in the aviation sector: emissions from corporate flights. By offering this new fare, Lufthansa allows companies to offset up to 30% of the CO2 emissions associated with business travel through the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a clean alternative to conventional jet fuel.

The new corporate fare was introduced in June 2025 and has already been used by Airbus employees for all their domestic flights within Germany. The fare aims to provide a scalable solution for companies seeking to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining the convenience and flexibility associated with business air travel. The move is part of the broader effort to integrate sustainability into corporate travel decisions, as companies increasingly recognize the need to address their environmental impact.

This partnership between Lufthansa Group and Airbus is a landmark in the aviation industry’s ongoing efforts to adopt sustainable practices and reduce its environmental impact. Airlines have long been under pressure to address their contribution to global carbon emissions, and SAF has emerged as one of the most promising solutions for making air travel more sustainable. Sustainable aviation fuel is produced from renewable sources and can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle when compared to traditional kerosene-based fuels.

Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer at Lufthansa Group, expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration, stating, “I am particularly pleased and thankful that our longstanding partner Airbus has opted for a corporate fare with SAF, demonstrating its leading role also in the field of sustainability.” Vranckx emphasized the growing importance of sustainability in business travel, noting that more and more companies are factoring environmental impact into their travel decisions.

This partnership is a direct response to the increasing demand from companies for sustainable travel solutions. As global attention on climate change and carbon emissions intensifies, many businesses are under pressure to reduce their environmental impact, especially in areas like corporate travel, which is a significant contributor to global emissions.

The new customised Sustainable Corporate Value Fare allows businesses and employees to offset the CO2 emissions from their flights by using SAF on Lufthansa flights. This fare is designed specifically for corporate customers who are looking to make their air travel more sustainable without compromising on the convenience of traditional business-class services.

For Airbus, this new fare provides an opportunity to integrate sustainability into its travel operations. As part of the arrangement, Airbus employees now have the ability to reduce their carbon footprint by choosing flights that use SAF. The fare allows the offsetting of up to 30% of the CO2 emissions from a flight through the use of SAF, helping Airbus make significant strides toward meeting its sustainability goals.

“We have been working in close co-operation with Lufthansa Group since early 2024 to customise their Sustainable Corporate Value Fare to meet the specific needs of Airbus travellers,” said Raphael Duflos, Vice President of Corporate Services Procurement at Airbus. “They have helped us to create a meaningful offer incorporating sustainable aviation fuels, starting in the German domestic market.”

The fare is currently being applied to Lufthansa’s domestic routes within Germany, but both companies have expressed interest in expanding the initiative to include international flights in the future. The partnership demonstrates how the aviation sector can leverage innovation and sustainability to meet the growing demand for environmentally responsible travel solutions.

Sustainable aviation fuel is seen as a key solution for reducing emissions in the aviation industry, which is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions globally. Unlike conventional jet fuel, SAF is produced from renewable resources such as plant-based oils, agricultural waste, or even carbon captured from the air. SAF can be blended with traditional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft engines, which makes it a versatile solution for reducing emissions without requiring significant changes to airport infrastructure or fleet technology.

SAF has the potential to cut carbon emissions by up to 80% over the lifecycle of the fuel, making it one of the most promising tools in the aviation industry’s quest to reduce its environmental impact. However, the widespread adoption of SAF is still in its early stages. Currently, SAF is produced in limited quantities and is more expensive than traditional jet fuel. The collaboration between Lufthansa and Airbus represents an important step toward increasing the availability and affordability of SAF, as well as demonstrating its viability as a sustainable fuel for corporate air travel.

Airbus is also working with other major airlines, such as easyJet, to explore and stimulate the use of SAF in commercial aviation. The goal is to make SAF more accessible and cost-effective, ultimately enabling airlines to reduce their carbon emissions and contribute to global sustainability efforts.

The introduction of the Sustainable Corporate Value Fare provides several key benefits for corporate customers. First and foremost, it allows companies to reduce the carbon emissions associated with business travel, helping them meet sustainability targets and demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility. The fare is also flexible and customizable, offering businesses a way to integrate sustainability into their travel programs without compromising on service or convenience.

In addition, Lufthansa offers several other special fares for corporate clients, including the option for companies to invest in larger quantities of SAF through bulk deals. This provides businesses with an opportunity to offset their emissions more effectively and at scale. As more companies adopt sustainable travel practices, the demand for such fares and SAF options is expected to grow, encouraging other airlines to follow suit.

The partnership between Lufthansa and Airbus serves as a model for how the aviation industry can drive sustainability through innovation and collaboration. By leveraging SAF, both companies are helping to pave the way for a more sustainable future in air travel. As more airlines and corporate customers adopt SAF and similar initiatives, the aviation industry’s carbon footprint will be significantly reduced, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.

The launch of the customised SAF fare is just one example of how the aviation sector is evolving to meet the demands of the modern traveler, who is increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their travel decisions. As the industry continues to innovate and embrace sustainable practices, it is likely that more airlines will follow Lufthansa’s lead, offering similar solutions to corporate customers seeking to reduce their environmental impact.

Lufthansa Group’s collaboration with Airbus to create a customised SAF fare represents a major milestone in the airline industry’s efforts to reduce emissions from business travel. By offering the option to offset up to 30% of CO2 emissions through the use of sustainable aviation fuel, the two companies are setting a new standard for sustainability in corporate travel. As more businesses and airlines adopt similar initiatives, SAF has the potential to play a crucial role in making air travel more sustainable and contributing to global climate goals.

Sources: Lufthansa Group, Airbus