Lufthansa Cargo and Swiss WorldCargo have announced a strategic move to include Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in their Airfreight Surcharge (ASC), starting January 1, 2025.
Lufthansa Cargo and Swiss WorldCargo, part of the Lufthansa Group, will begin incorporating the cost of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into their Airfreight Surcharge (ASC) starting January 1, 2025. The initial SAF blending quota will be set at 2 percent for flights departing from European Union (EU) countries, in line with the EU’s new RefuelEU Aviation mandate. This move aligns with the EU’s requirement for SAF to constitute 2 percent of fuel uplift from member state airports beginning in 2025.
The SAF quota is expected to increase progressively, reaching 6 percent by 2030 and 70 percent by 2050. This is part of the European Commission’s broader ‘Fit for 55’ package, which targets a 55 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Lufthansa Cargo highlighted that other countries are also preparing to implement SAF blending requirements. India, for instance, is working on a quota of 1-5 percent by 2027, while Singapore will require 1 percent SAF for flights from Changi Airport starting in 2026, with a target of 3-5 percent by 2030. By the same year, the EU will mandate a 6 percent blend, and the UK and Japan will require 10 percent.
The airlines acknowledged that the aviation sector alone cannot establish a competitive SAF market and called for governmental support. They stressed that a targeted policy is essential to boost SAF availability and reduce its cost, which is currently 3-5 times higher than fossil fuels.
Since 2015, Lufthansa Cargo and Swiss WorldCargo have implemented the ASC to account for additional costs, primarily those associated with fuel, currency fluctuations, and security. Moving forward, SAF costs will be integrated into this surcharge mechanism.
The Lufthansa Group remains committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with an interim goal of halving CO₂ emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. Both Lufthansa Cargo and Swiss WorldCargo offer customers emission reduction services, through programs such as Green Choice at Swiss WorldCargo and Sustainable Choice at Lufthansa Cargo.
