Deutsche Bank invests in sustainable aviation fuel together with Lufthansa Group | News
A strong signal for more sustainable aviation:
As part of its strategy to reduce the climate impact of business travel, Deutsche Bank, together with the Lufthansa Group, is investing in the deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in air transport. The jointly agreed volume of approximately 1,600 tons of SAF enables an estimated emission saving of approximately 5,500 tons of CO₂. This corresponds to the CO₂ emissions of approximately 520 flights between Frankfurt and London operated by an Airbus A320neo. The agreement builds on the growing cooperation between the two companies: since October 2025, Deutsche Bank has been issuing the Lufthansa Miles & More Credit Card. In the field of sustainability, both partners aim to further deepen their cooperation – with the aim of promoting sustainable transformation and increasing the credibility and acceptance of climate protection solutions.
Frank Naeve, Senior Vice President Global Sales and Distribution, Lufthansa Group, said: “Deutsche Bank’s decision to support the deployment of SAF at Lufthansa Group on this scale is compelling evidence that more sustainable flying is becoming increasingly important in the business travel sector. We are pleased to reach a milestone together with Deutsche Bank – and show that companies can make a measurable contribution to reducing the climate impact of their travel activities through concrete investments in SAF.”
Jörg Eigendorf, Chief Sustainability Officer of Deutsche Bank, says: “Sustainable aviation fuel is an important tool for Deutsche Bank in our efforts to almost halve our CO₂ emissions in our supply chain by 2030 compared to 2019. It is also important for us to send a signal: only if there is reliable demand will SAF producers invest in production and make alternative fuels more competitive. This is an important part of our overall approach: we want to Reduce CO₂ emissions from our business trips and offset remaining emissions where possible.”
A broad portfolio of solutions for business customers
The Lufthansa Group has been working on a sustainable transformation of aviation for years and offers companies a wide range of tailor-made solutions for more sustainable flying. Companies can purchase larger quantities of SAF from the Lufthansa Group through so-called SAF bulk deals. From an investment of € 2,000 or more, companies receive a Scope 3 certificate for CO₂ savings in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard. This not only strengthens a company’s environmental commitment, but also promotes the further development and deployment of SAF within the aviation industry. Logistics companies are also increasingly entering into SAF bulk deals, which Lufthansa Cargo offers from a minimum purchase volume of 100 tons of SAF.
With the ‘Sustainable Corporate Value Fare’, business customers can contribute to saving up to 30 percent of SAF’s future CO₂ emissions. For all products for business customers, approximately 1,700 companies worldwide invested in SAF with the Lufthansa Group by 2025.
Growing demand for more sustainable travel options
The Lufthansa Group is seeing an overall increase in demand for more sustainable travel options and is enabling its customers – through a variety of private and business travel offers – to contribute to reducing the climate impact of future flights. With measurable success: more than five percent of Lufthansa Group passengers opted for a more sustainable travel option in 2025 – for example the Green Fares fare. The volume of sustainable aviation fuel sold has more than doubled in the past year, spread across different product formats. The active involvement of passengers in more sustainable flying is an important pillar of the Lufthansa Group’s sustainability strategy.
Five levers for more sustainable flying
The broad offering for private travelers and business customers – in addition to the modernization of the fleet, the continuous improvement of fuel efficiency in flight operations, the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the expansion of intermodality – represents one of the five levers through which the Lufthansa Group promotes more sustainable flying. In addition, the Lufthansa Group has been actively supporting global climate and weather research for more than 30 years.
Background: Deployment of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) within the Lufthansa Group
Through the options that the Lufthansa Group offers for more sustainable flying, customers support the use of SAF in flight operations. The Lufthansa Group ensures that the required volume of SAF is introduced into the airport infrastructure within six months of purchase. SAF is a so-called “drop-in” fuel: it is compatible with conventional fossil kerosene and can easily be mixed with it. Booking an option for more sustainable flying does not result in an individual SAF refueling of the booked flight, but supports the wider use of SAF within the Lufthansa Group route network. Assessed over its entire life cycle, SAF produced from biogenic residues and used by the Lufthansa Group has a carbon footprint that is on average at least 80 percent lower annually than that of conventional jet fuel derived from fossil crude oil. SAF, which is part of the Lufthansa Group’s customer offering for more sustainable flying, is being purchased by the Lufthansa Group in addition to the mandatory SAF quota.
Parts of the eligible SAF deployed were co-financed through the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
