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Aviation sustainability developments from around the world

13 December 2024

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The Lufthansa Group is expanding its successful tariff for more sustainable flying to long-haul flights and thus to its global route network. The Green Fares are bookable in all travel classes for more than 850,000 flights per year. The more sustainable ticket already includes offsetting of individual flight-related CO₂ emissions. The Green Fares are part of the Lufthansa Group's growing portfolio of more sustainable travel offers.

The global airport industry marked a new milestone on its accelerated journey to decarbonisation, as reported by ACI EUROPE and Heydar Aliyev International Airport, at their joint COP29 side‑event. More than 600 airports across the globe are now actively engaged in CO₂ management as part of the industry’s carbon standard, Airport Carbon Accreditation. Delegates participating in the 29th United Nations Climate Change conference in Baku have travelled through an accredited airport, with Heydar Aliyev International Airport being the first airport in the subregion to hold Level 2 certification within the programme.

The International Air Transport Association’s Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) called on industry and governments to work together with practical actions to make Europe more competitive and sustainable. “Europe must understand that its overregulation is reducing the global competitiveness of European industries. The Draghi recommendations shouldn’t just be a report – they must be implemented. Key to that is a better approach to sustainability. Regulators need to understand that taxing people off planes will not reduce CO₂. (…) What’s needed is practical action, such as reviving the single European Sky which could cut emissions by 10% overnight, and better incentives for increasing production of SAF,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.