Issue 4/2019

Dear Readers of the Lufthansa Policy Brief,

"The Federal Government has made 2019 the year of action for climate protection", Environmental Minister Svenja Schulze stated last week in her speech at the UN Climate Conference in Madrid. And indeed: more than any year before, climate-political debates and resolutions dominated the political landscape. Decision-makers in Germany and Europe faced the challenge of translating the dynamic triggered by Greta Thunberg and the Fridays for Future movement into political action without sliding into actionism. This was not always successful. This is especially true for the aviation industry.

Despite relatively low overall emissions, it is nonetheless incumbent on us as a growth industry to lower emissions. And indeed, with EU emissions trading and the world-wide CO₂ compensation system CORSIA, aviation has already anchored climate protection instruments which are supported by science and are still dreams of the future for other modes of transport such as road or sea.

But all this cannot deflect attention from the contradictory nature of the climate package. On the one hand it sings the ETS’ praises, only to turn around and unilaterally raise national taxes for the aviation industry, despite the industry being an ETS participant. If only political ambition was equally fervent when it came to ensuring that every large airport had an intercity rail station or finalising the Single European Sky. Or why does the Federal Government not take the billions generated by aviation tax to get serious about achieving progress in the future-relevant topic of CO₂ neutral fuel?

Read more about this and other topics in our current Policy Brief. We look forward to the coming year, which will also be exciting. We will take more important steps in CORSIA. In addition, we are looking towards Brussels. The aviation agenda there includes the design of the Green Deal, the announced initiative for a relaunch of the Single European Sky, and regulations for passenger rights. And of course, we have marked October 31, 2020 in bold on our calendar – the day the new Berlin Airport is due to open

Contents

Europe’s Green Deal

What matters for aviation

In 100 days the new EU Commission is due to present the details of its „Green Deal“. Aviation is also supposed to become more environmentally friendly. The goal that politics and industry are pursuing together is the right one. But how we get there is essential.  ...more

Climate-friendly kerosene

When will we take off into the future?

Kerosene does not have to be harmful to the climate. With sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) it is possible to achieve CO₂ neutral flight in the long term. For this reason, they are decisive for climate protection in aviation. We would like to fill up with more synthetic fuel rather today than tomorrow. For this, we need powerful political support. The latest resolutions lag far behind what is needed. 

...more

Taxes and fees

German aviation policy at the expense of the location

The competition in the skies is tough. Just in Europe, the number of operating airlines decreased from 131 to 107 within one year until mid-2019. And the consolidation continues: according to forecasts, 12 airline groups will define the world market in a few years. The Lufthansa Group wants to be one of this dozen and feels that it is currently well positioned. However, continually increasing burdens at home weaken our competitiveness. 

...more

Berlin

Arrivals possible from everywhere in the world

The date has been set: BER is to open on 31 October 2020. Hopes are high that it will work this time. Berlin needs a new, functioning airport and it is also important for the Lufthansa Group.  ...more

Aircraft data

Preventing monopolies

It is the gold of today – data. Whoever has data, profits. Exclusive data access can give businesses a competitive edge and create additional business models. Since the question “Whose data is it?” is so central, there is a risk that businesses will exploit their market power and attempt to obtain exclusive data access. Policymakers are planning countermeasures here, including measures aimed at aircraft manufacturers. ...more

Lounge

Flying can save lives

Thousands of people with leukaemia all over the world are waiting for life-saving stem cells. Possible donors come either from their own family or they are found through internationally networked donor registries and in many cases live far away from the patient. This is where special couriers come in.  ...more

Telegram

Topic overview

Express-Rail: Additional offers starting on december 15

Airbus A319:

...more

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