Kerosene and Emissions
As a provider of mobility services, Lufthansa connects people around the world and promotes the exchange of goods, ideas and cultures. Thus, the Aviation Group acts as a central driving force of globalisation, which would not be conceivable without transport services.
As the mobility of travellers and goods increases, the burdens placed on nature and the environment grow accordingly. For many years, the aviation company has paid special attention – for economic and ecological reasons alike – keeping fuel consumption and thus also CO2 emissions as low as possible.
At Lufthansa, a comparison of transport performance and environmental pollution is an impressive example showing that increasing needs of mobility do not necessarily mean a proportionate increase in fuel consumption and emissions.
Decoupling of transport performance and environmental burden
Change compared with 1991 in percent, values for the fleet of the Lufthansa group
Lufthansa increases efficiency and reduces emissions
Lufthansa has achieved a continuous decoupling of transport performance from environmental effects since 1991: Over the past 17 years, transport performance increased by 232 percent, while kerosene consumption and CO
2 emissions rose only by 121.1 percent. This means that about half of this growth could be realized without an additional burden to the environment.
Lufthansa still has its sights firmly set on further efficiency goals: the passenger fleets’ specific fuel consumption is to be reduced by 33 percent below 1991 levels by 2008 – and by as much as 38 percent by 2012. Along with this goal comes a reduction of the specific CO2 emissions. The first goal has nearly been reached: By the end of the year 2007, the passenger aircraft operated by Lufthansa have reduced their specific kerosene consumption by 30.3 percent.
It is also encouraging that the specific fuel consumption in passenger transportation declined to 4.32 liters per 100 passenger kilometers during the reporting year. This is the second-lowest value in the company’s history.
Also in 2007 the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (UHCs) could be maintained at almost the same low level of the previous year.
This kind of success in reducing kerosene consumption and emissions of pollutants would be unthinkable without support from research and science. In addition to direct measures in all matters concerning aviation, Lufthansa therefore not only drives technological progress, but also supports a number of scientific research projects.
To find out more about responsibility at Lufthansa, read the latest sustainability report Balance.