SAF is the generic term used for all aviation fuels that are produced without the use of fossil resources such as crude oil or natural gas. SAF is a key technology for making air travel more sustainable and is essential for the energy transition in aviation as it can be fed into regular flight operations without infrastructure adjustments. Various manufacturing processes and different feedstocks are available as energy sources. The current generation of SAF used by the Lufthansa Group is produced from biogenic residues, such as used cooking oils and waste fats.
Although the combustion of SAF and fossil kerosene emits similar amounts of CO2, the use of SAF creates a CO2 circle: Biogenic residues (e.g. used cooking oil) that have previously removed CO2 from the atmosphere are used as a feedstock for production. When SAF is burned, only as much CO2 is emitted as was previously removed from the atmosphere by the feedstock. Due to the production and transportation of SAF, it does not reduce CO2 emissions by 100% over the entire supply chain compared to kerosene.
However, the Lufthansa Group guarantees that the SAF currently used reduces CO2 emissions by at least 80% on an annual average compared to fossil kerosene.
The SAF currently used by the Lufthansa Group is produced in the HEFA process (Hydro processed Esters & Fatty Acids) from biogenic residues such as used cooking oils. It guarantees a CO2 reduction of at least 80% on an annual average compared to fossil kerosene.
SAF plays a central role in advancing lower-emission and therefore more sustainable aviation. The Lufthansa Group has been actively involved in SAF research for many years and is driving forward the introduction of next-generation sustainable aviation fuels. Examples of such future-oriented technologies include Power-to-Liquid (PtL) and Sun-to-Liquid (StL) processes, which rely on renewable electricity or solar heat as energy sources.
The Lufthansa Group sources SAF from established suppliers in Europe. The SAF is purchased by the Lufthansa Group’s fuel management department, blended with fossil kerosene by the supplier, and then physically transported to airports in Europe where the Lufthansa Group uplifts large quantities of kerosene.
Lufthansa Group passengers can already contribute to reducing the climate impact of future flights through the use of SAF corresponding to a defined share of the estimated individual flight-related CO₂ emissions. These options can be selected and purchased directly during the booking process and are combined with support for selected climate protection projects.
By booking one of these options, Lufthansa Group procures the amount of SAF required to achieve the desired partial CO2 saving and feed it into its flight operations within six months after the respective flight.
No, due to the remaining CO2 emissions from production and transportation of SAF, current SAF technologies cannot reduce 100% of a flight’s emissions. However, the Lufthansa Group currently uses SAF that reduces emissions by at least 80% on an annual average compared to fossil kerosene.
No, booking an option to support SAF does not lead to an individual SAF uplift on the booked flight. It supports the general use of SAF within Lufthansa Group's route network. What matters is that the additional SAF corresponding to the passenger’s contribution is used within the Lufthansa Group's flight operations, ensuring the CO2 saving. The Lufthansa Group guarantees that the SAF will be fed into its flight operations within six months of the passenger’s flight departure.
No, SAF used in the Lufthansa Group’s offers to customers is purchased in addition to the EU regulatory SAF quota of 2%, the costs of which are already factored into the ticket price via the Environmental Cost Surcharge, and is incorporated into the Group’s flight operations within six months after the respective flight.
The Lufthansa Group calculates the fuel required based on the estimated CO₂ emissions and ensure that exactly this amount of SAF is used on future Lufthansa Group flights. The Lufthansa Group calculates the price premium incurred to replace fossil kerosene with SAF for an individual flight.
For a flight, an algorithm determines the amount of CO2 per passenger based on the booking class and aircraft type. Based on the estimated amount, passengers can support the use of SAF corresponding to a defined share of these CO2 emissions. Customers only pay the difference between the regular fuel price and the SAF price, which is primarily based on the prevailing market procurement costs.
The use of eligible SAF in 2024 was co-funded by the EU Emissions Trading System, with Lufthansa Group receiving EUR 13 million in support in 2025. Eligible SAF refers to eligible aviation fuels as defined in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/723 (FEETS).
The current amount of SAF available globally remains extremely small. In 2025, SAF production amounted to around 1.9 million tonnes, accounting for only around 0.6 per cent of global aviation fuel demand (IATA). This is not sufficient to enable large-scale use of SAF in flight operations.
In 2025, the Lufthansa Group used around 139,000 tonnes of SAF, compared with around 20,000 tonness in 2024. This accounted for around 1.5 per cent of the Lufthansa Group’s total fuel consumption. The figure includes both SAF volumes used through customer contributions toward more sustainable flying and, since 2025, volumes used to meet the mandatory SAF quota under the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation.
Over the coming years, the Lufthansa Group intends to successively increase this amount and ensures that customer demand for SAF can be met. However, the aviation industry cannot initiate a self-sustaining market on its own.
The price of SAF depends on technology and oil price development. Currently, the market price for existing SAF from biogenic residues is three to five times higher than the price for fossil kerosene. Next-generation SAF is currently only available in very small quantities and still up to ten times more expensive than fossil kerosene. The Lufthansa Group is involved in various projects to ensure that sustainable aviation fuels become available in larger quantities as quickly as possible.
Electricity-based fuels, known as Power-to-Liquid (PtL) or “eFuels”, also fall under the category of Sustainable Aviation Fuels. This next generation of SAF is produced using renewable electricity, water and CO2 (taken from the atmosphere) to create a synthetic crude oil, which can be processed into kerosene. PtL aviation fuels are still under development towards industrial-scale production, however, they are considered promising from an environmental and scaling perspective.
In Sun-to-Liquid (StL) technology, high-temperature solar heat, water, and CO2 (taken from the atmosphere) are used to produce a synthesis gas, which can then be converted into liquid fuel such as kerosene using standard industrial processes. Such StL fuel closes the CO2 cycle, as it releases only as much CO2 when it is combusted as was previously used in its production. The Lufthansa Group is driving the development of this technology and cooperates with Swiss solar fuel pioneer Synhelion.