On 27 November 2024, Lufthansa Cargo and A.P. Moller-Maersk announced a partnership aimed at promoting the decarbonisation of air cargo through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a fuel regarded as more sustainable for aviation. For the remainder of 2024, Lufthansa Cargo will use 400 tonnes of SAF on behalf of Maersk, a significant contribution during a time of traditionally high freight volumes, such as the end of the year. The airline expects the resulting reduction in CO2 emissions to amount to at least 1,200 tonnes.
The SAF used by Lufthansa Cargo is produced from biogenic residues, such as used cooking oil, through the HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters & Fatty Acids) process. Since September 2021, all Lufthansa Cargo customers have been able to choose more sustainable transport for their goods through the additional service known as Sustainable Choice. Maersk will allocate the emissions reductions achieved to one of its European air freight customers as part of the Eco Delivery Air product. The Danish multinational offers a range of services, including Eco Delivery Ocean, Air, and Inland, which help reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional energy sources.
Morten Bo Christiansen, Head of Energy Transition at A.P. Moller-Maersk, explained: “The use and availability of SAF in the aviation sector is still limited. Our agreement with Lufthansa Cargo allows us to contribute to increasing the use of this sustainable fuel.” Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo, added: “SAF is a crucial technological key for more sustainable flying and essential for the energy transition in aviation. With Maersk, we are making a valuable contribution with this new agreement.”
Lufthansa stated that over its full lifecycle (production, delivery, combustion in the engine), SAF derived from waste biomass has a CO2 footprint 80% lower than conventional fossil kerosene. Moreover, as a "drop-in" fuel, it can be integrated into existing aviation infrastructure without modifications. However, for operational reasons, it is not possible to refuel individual selected flights.
