Lufthansa and Shell form future-oriented cooperation on sustainable aviation fuels

• Memorandum of Understanding to supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in a volume of up to 1.8 million metric tons for the years 2024-2030
• SAF technology leading the way for decarbonization of aviation

Shell International Petroleum Co Ltd and the Lufthansa Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for exploring the supply of SAF at airports across the globe. The parties intend to agree on a contract for a total supply volume of up to 1.8 million metric tons of SAF starting in 2024, over a term of seven years.  Such an agreement would be one of the most significant commercial SAF cooperation in the aviation sector, as well as the largest SAF commitment of both companies to date.

The cooperation would enable the Lufthansa Group to promote the availability, market ramp-up and use of SAF as an essential element for a CO₂ -neutral future of aviation. The Lufthansa Group is already the largest SAF customer in Europe and aims to remain one of the world’s leading airline groups in the use of sustainable kerosene. The MoU builds on Shell’s ambition to have at least ten percent of its global aviation fuel sales as SAF by 2030.

SAF – the sustainable aviation fuel

SAF is aviation fuel that is produced without the use of fossil energy sources, such as crude oil or natural gas, and show a saving of CO₂ compared to conventional kerosene. Various production processes exist and different feedstock are available as energy sources. The current generation of SAF, which saves 80 percent CO₂ compared to conventional kerosene, is mainly produced from biogenic residues, for example from used cooking oils. In the long term, SAF can enable virtually CO2-neutral aviation.

The Lufthansa Group has been involved in SAF research for many years, has built up an extensive network of partnerships and is driving forward the introduction of sustainable next-generation aviation fuels in particular. Special focus is placed on the forward-looking power-to-liquid and sun-to-liquid technologies, which use renewable energies or solar thermal energy as energy carriers.

By using SAF, customers of the Lufthansa Group can already fly CO₂ -neutral today. In addition, they can document their reduced CO₂ emissions with audited certificates and have the CO₂ savings credited to their individual CO₂ balance.

A clear strategy for a sustainable future

The Lufthansa Group assumes responsibility for effective climate protection with a clearly defined path toward CO₂ neutrality: By 2030, the company’s own net CO₂ emissions are to be halved compared to 2019, and by 2050, the Lufthansa Group wants to achieve a neutral CO₂ balance. To this end, the company relies on accelerated fleet modernization, the continuous optimization of flight operations, the use of sustainable aviation fuels and innovative offers for its customers to make a flight CO₂ -neutral.