Lufthansa’s introduction of “Green Fares” has been met with enthusiasm from the flying public. Since their launch in mid-February, approximately 200,000 consumers have purchased these special fares, according to recent data released by Lufthansa Group.
The Green Fares are specifically designed to provide a more sustainable and eco-friendly option for air travel. The ticket price includes the offsetting of 100 percent of the CO2 emissions associated with the booked flight. Lufthansa achieves this by utilizing 20 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and contributing 80 percent to “high-quality climate protection projects.”
Currently available for flights within Europe and North Africa, the route with the highest number of Green Fares bookings so far is Zurich, Switzerland to London via Lufthansa’s partner, SWISS. The Hamburg, Germany to Munich, Germany route with Lufthansa comes in second place for the most Green Fares bookings.
In addition to contributing to climate change mitigation, the Green Fares offer additional perks such as extra status miles and a free rebooking option. Participating airlines include Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Edelweiss, Eurowings Discover, and Air Dolomiti. These fares can be purchased for more than 730,000 flights per year within Europe, as well as to Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
However, Lufthansa’s Green Fares have not been without controversy. Some climate activists have labeled them as “greenwashing.” Flight Free UK, a campaign organization, expressed criticism on Twitter, stating, “Lufthansa is introducing a new Green(washing) Fare. So if you’re worried about aviation emissions, don’t be! You can just pay a little bit extra and it all magically goes away.”
The term “greenwashing” refers to claims made by companies regarding eco-friendly or sustainable practices that have not been verified or intentionally deceive consumers. Flight Free UK and other critics argue that such fare options may give passengers a false sense of security regarding their emissions.
Nevertheless, Lufthansa sees the Green Fares as an important step toward addressing climate concerns. Christina Foerster, member of the Lufthansa Group’s executive board responsible for brand and sustainability, stated, “The product launch is an important building block in our efforts to make air travel more climate-friendly.”
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also urged governments worldwide to support the development of sustainable aviation fuels through policies promoting their creation. By offering Green Fares, Lufthansa aims to provide customers with an easy way to make flying a more sustainable experience.
