When kerosene burns in jet engines, it produces carbon dioxide, better known as CO₂. This greenhouse gas contributes to climate change. Eurowings offers travellers the opportunity to reduce calculated flight-related CO₂ emissions through the use of SAF or compensate for them by contributing to high-quality climate protection projects.

The calculated CO₂ amount per passenger depends on a variety of factors. To determine an accurate value, the Lufthansa Group uses a calculator developed with the climate protection organisation myclimate, which is based on a large dataset of past flight data. Factors like the flight route, average fuel consumption, travel class, and load factor are considered to compute an estimated CO₂ value per passenger.

In addition to CO₂, kerosene combustion generates water vapor, nitrogen oxides, and fine soot particles, known as non-CO₂ emissions.

The total climate impact of air travel extends beyond CO₂ emissions. Non-CO₂ emissions also affect the climate, particularly through long-lived contrails formed under very specific atmospheric conditions. These contrails can have either a warming or cooling effect on the atmosphere depending on the conditions under which they form.

As the exact impact of non-CO₂ effects on the climate remains insufficiently researched, the Lufthansa Group currently does not include them in its per-passenger CO₂ emission calculations. However, the Lufthansa Group is actively involved in research to better understand non-CO₂ effects and develop methods to minimise their occurrence.

We offer you three different packages with varying levels of reduction and compensation to travel more sustainably with us. With a package that has a higher reduction share (such as PlanetBlu Pro), the offsetting of CO₂ emissions is increasingly achieved through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), resulting in higher costs per unit of CO₂.

You can choose from our sustainability options either during your flight booking or at any time afterward. Here’s how it works:

Simply select one of the following PlanetBlu options during your booking on eurowings.com in the final step on the payment page:

1. PlanetBlu Light: 95% compensation + 5% reduction (95% climate protection projects + 5% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF))

2. PlanetBlu Plus: 90% compensation + 10% reduction (90% climate protection projects + 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF))

3. PlanetBlu Pro: 50% compensation + 50% reduction (50% climate protection projects + 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF))

To offset your calculated flight-related CO₂ emissions, you can easily add one of our PlanetBlu packages as a post-booking option on our website. Log in with your user account or booking code and select your desired package in the final step on the payment page. More information about the PlanetBlu packages can be found here.

Alternatively, you can buy our SAFt-Smoothie on board, which combines an organic beverage with the full CO₂ offset, using SAF and climate protection projects, equivalent to the emissions of an average Eurowings flight. More information can be found in our WINGS Bistro.

SAF refers to all aviation fuels that are produced without the use of fossil raw materials like petroleum or natural gas. SAF is a crucial technological key for more sustainable flying and is essential for the energy transition in aviation. Various production methods and different raw materials as energy carriers are available. The current generation of SAF used by the Lufthansa Group is mainly produced from biogenic residues, such as used cooking oils and fats.

For each flight, we calculate the surcharge for the proportional upgrade from fossil fuel to Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

Example:

On a flight from Düsseldorf to Palma de Mallorca, approximately 128 kg of CO₂ is emitted per person, depending on the booking class and aircraft type. This amount can be offset by supporting high-quality climate protection projects and through the use of SAF. When SAF is used proportionally, you only pay the difference between the regular kerosene price and the SAF price.

We guarantee that the SAF purchased will be integrated into the Lufthansa Group`s flight operations within six months of the respective flight.

The SAF currently used by the Lufthansa Group is produced in the HEFA process (Hydroprocessed Esters & Fatty Acids) from biogenic residues such as used cooking oils. This SAF is produced from raw materials in accordance with the Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001/EU Article 30) "RED II". All SAF used are certified according to the ISCC or RSB system with a greenhouse gas reduction of at least 80 percent. The SAF used by the Lufthansa Group complies with applicable European law, in particular the Renewable Energy Directive.

Although the combustion of SAF and fossil kerosene emits identical amounts of CO₂, the use of SAF creates a CO₂ cycle: biogenic residues (e.g. used cooking oil) used in SAF production have previously absorbed CO₂ from the atmosphere. When SAF is burned, it only releases as much CO₂ as was previously absorbed by its raw materials.

Since CO₂ is still emitted during SAF`s production and delivery processes, SAF reduces total CO₂ emissions across the supply chain by about 80% compared to fossil kerosene. To fully neutralise the CO₂ emissions of an individual flight, a higher SAF proportion is introduced into Lufthansa Group operations to balance the remaining emissions.

Sustainable aviation fuel is produced through a resource-efficient process. Various certified methods for SAF production exist, with a focus on reusing carbon from sustainable biomass or gases and converting it into fuel. This process replaces fossil fuels refined from crude oil and is a critical first step in closing the CO₂ cycle. The fuel is burned, the emitted carbon is reabsorbed by biomass, and then converted into fuel again.

Currently, SAF saves about 80% of CO₂ emissions compared to fossil fuels. To achieve 100% CO₂ neutrality, production and delivery processes for alternative fuels need further optimisation.

The Lufthansa Group procures SAF from established suppliers in Europe, such as NESTE or OMV. SAF is purchased by the Lufthansa Group`s fuel department, blended with fossil kerosene by the supplier, and transported to Lufthansa Group hubs, such as Frankfurt Airport. The currently allowed maximum blending rate for SAF, according to fuel specifications, is 50%. Regulatory constraints currently prevent 100% SAF-fueled passenger flights.

No, it cannot be guaranteed that the specific aircraft of the passenger will be fueled with SAF. The SAF purchased by passengers is centrally procured by the Lufthansa Group, mixed with fossil kerosene by the supplier, and transported to various airports (e.g. Frankfurt Airport). What matters is that aircraft are fuelled with SAF and that CO₂ reductions occur. The Lufthansa Group guarantees that SAF purchased will be introduced into flight operations within six months of purchase.

SAF currently costs three to five times more than fossil aviation fuel. This results in limited demand and higher production costs for the fuel. As long as production facilities are focused on small volumes, they cannot operate at maximum efficiency. The Lufthansa Group is involved in numerous projects to make sustainable aviation fuels available in larger quantities as quickly as possible. As production becomes more industrialised, prices are expected to decrease over time.

SAF plays a central role in achieving CO₂-neutral aviation by 2050. The Lufthansa Group has been involved in SAF research for many years and is advancing the adoption of next-generation sustainable aviation fuels, focusing on innovative Power-to-Liquid (PtL) and Sun-to-Liquid (StL) technologies that use renewable energy or solar heat as energy sources.

Power-to-Liquid Fuels (PtL), also known as "eFuels," are part of the SAF category. This next generation of SAF is produced from renewable energy, water, and CO₂ (from the atmosphere) to create synthetic crude oil, which can be refined into kerosene. PtL fuels are still in development for industrial-scale production but are considered an essential step toward CO₂-neutral flying.

The Sun-to-Liquid (StL) technology uses high-temperature solar heat, water, and CO₂ (from the atmosphere) to create synthesis gas, which can be converted into liquid fuels like kerosene using standard industrial processes. This StL fuel closes the CO₂ cycle by emitting only as much CO₂ during combustion as was previously used for its production. The Lufthansa Group is driving the development of this technology in cooperation with the Swiss solar fuel pioneer Synhelion.

Removal projects extract CO₂ from the atmosphere and store it. This can be done through natural methods, such as reforesting wooded and natural landscapes, where CO₂ is absorbed from the air through photosynthesis and stored in plants. Technological removal projects focus on permanently capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere. For instance, biochar projects bind CO₂ as carbon in the form of biochar, and advanced technologies allow CO₂ to be filtered from the air and stored long-term.

Avoidance projects prevent the emission of additional CO₂. These include using energy-efficient stoves, investing in renewable energy, or providing clean water solutions. Alongside their environmental and climate benefits, these projects contribute to biodiversity preservation, improve local communities` living conditions by creating jobs and education opportunities, and provide clean air and drinking water.

The 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 sub-targets form the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They align the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and, for the first time, place poverty eradication and sustainability on a shared global agenda.

The SDGs are to be achieved by 2030 worldwide and by all UN member states. This means that all nations are equally responsible for their implementation. Additionally, incentives are created to encourage non-governmental actors to contribute actively to sustainable development. When selecting climate protection projects to support, we ensure that, in addition to CO₂ compensation, they also contribute to sustainable development in line with the SDGs. Detailed information can be found in the project fact sheets.