Airline to introduce 39;Environmental Cost Surcharge39;
Fares to rise between 1 euro and 72 euros
Air FranceKLM has made a similar move

June 25 Reuters Lufthansa will add an environmental charge of up to 72 euros 77 to its fares, the airline group said on Tuesday, joining at least one European rival in doing so as the industry battles to cover the cost of meeting new EU rules on reducing emissions.

Airlines have warned for years that regulations requiring them to use more expensive sustainable jet fuel could drive up costs.

Ticket prices have already surged in recent years in the postCOVID travel boom, raising fears that further increases could start deterring travellers from flying.

Fares will go up between 1 euro and 72 euros, depending on the type of ticket, on all flights departing from European Union countries, Britain, Norway and Switzerland, the German airline group said. Some of the increases are effective from June 26 and others from 2025.

It said the charge would cover part of the steadily rising additional costs due to regulatory environmental requirements such as sustainable aviation fuel SAF made from biobased materials regarded as crucial to making flying less polluting.

Lufthansa shares hit an intraday low after the news and were last down 0.9 at 1226 GMT.

Aviation is deemed responsible for about 2 of the world39;s emissions but is considered one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise as fuel for flights cannot be easily replaced with other kinds…