Lufthansa Group introduces environmental tax on all flights: ticket increases of up to 72 euros

With airfare prices skyrocketing (albeit, perhaps, down slightly from the all-time peak reached last year), The introduction of an environmental tax will only turn the noses of passengers who as of next January 1, 2025 will travel aboard the Aircraft of the companies that are part of the Lufthansa Group: Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Discover.

The levy was announced by Frankfurt as a means of covering some of the increased costs that companies are incurring to comply with European regulations. One of them, the requirement to have in the tanks the 2% of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for all flights departing from European Union member countries, will come into effect precisely on January 1, 2025.

The tax will actually also be applied by the Lufthansa Group on tickets for flights departing (in addition to the 27 EU member countries) from the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland. The amount will vary depending on the route and type of fare between 1 euro and 72 euro and passengers will be able to know the exact amount at the time of booking among the price details.

Of course It is impossible, today, to speculate whether the tax will also be applied to ITA Airways tickets if the deal with Lufthansa would go through., but this is highly unlikely to happen before Lufthansa has acquired full ownership of the Italian carrier. Assuming, of course, that this will someday come to fruition.

• Saf