Lufthansa Group reduces fuel consumption in absolute terms with increased transport volume and sets a new efficiency record

The edition of the Balance Sustainability Report, which is published yesterday, once again clearly highlights the great commitment of the Lufthansa Group in the different dimensions of corporate responsibility. Commenting on the publication of the report, Dr. Christoph Franz, Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said: “The responsible handling of people and the environment is an integral component of the corporate philosophy and a significant success factor for the Lufthansa Group.

Economic sustainability is closely connected with ecological and social responsibility. Thus investments in the continuous improvement of fuel efficiency strengthen our economic balance and simultaneously make a contribution to the improvement in our environmental balance. Ecology and economy go hand-in-hand”.

With respect to fuel efficiency, the harmony of ecological and economic aims is particularly marked. Once again in 2012, the Lufthansa Group has set an efficiency record in kerosene consumption. The Group’s passenger airlines last year used an average of 4.06 litres per passenger and 100 kilometres, that is almost 3 per cent less than in the previous year. With a traffic performance that increased by about 0.2 per cent compared with the previous year (in transported ton-kilometres) the Group used 144,745 tons or 1.6 per cent less fuel than in the previous year and, as a result, emitted more than 455,000 tons less of CO2.

An essential element in the area of climate and environmental responsibility is the investment in quieter and more efficient aircraft. With the current fleet renewal programme, the largest in the history of the Lufthansa Group, the company is making clear progress with respect to reducing emissions and noise. In recent years, the Group’s airlines already put numerous energy-saving new aircraft models, like the Airbus A380 or most recently, the Boeing 747-8, into service. As of the end of 2013, Lufthansa Cargo will take delivery of the first two highly-efficient Boeing 777F air freighters. Also the purchase approved by the Supervisory Board in March of 108 new aircraft represents a major step forward for the environment and for the noise emissions affecting people living in the immediate vicinity of the airport. The ordered Boeing 777-300, Airbus A320ceo and the further-improved A320/A321neo, correspond with state-of-the-art technology. Up to the end of 2025, a total of 236 aircraft are currently to be found on the list of orders – with an order volume of 22 billion Euros at list prices.

Besides the investment in modern, noise-reduced aircraft, together with partners from industry, public authorities, universities and research Lufthansa is constantly working on the development of innovative noise level reduction measures. These include, for example, modifications to existing aircraft and the use of noise-reducing procedures in flight operations.

Also in connection with the taxiing and towing of aircraft on the ground and in the operation of further ground-based means of transport at the airport, the focus is on environmentally- harmless and cost-saving operations. Thus, in future, aircraft should no longer move to the runway, to their parking position at the terminal or to the hangar under the power of their jet engines, but rather with the help of electrically-powered aircraft tractors or by an electric drive integrated into the aircraft. Corresponding tests have started.

With an eye on economic sustainability, in spring 2012 the Lufthansa Group launched the corporate programme “SCORE – Change for Success”. With the help of SCORE it is planned to improve the operating result to 2.3 billion Euros by 2015. In the meantime, SCORE consists of over 2,500 individual projects. About 800 projects have been realized.

Even in times of radical change, the Lufthansa Group assumes responsibility for its employees. As an expression of a sustainable and socially responsible personnel policy, the company has established the COMPASS programme which supports employees and executives in successfully reorienting themselves with respect to their careers. In addition, Lufthansa has initiated, for example, numerous initiatives aimed at promoting diversity within the Group. For example, in filling management positions, increasing attention is being given to diversity aspects. The objective is, among other things, to increase the share of women in management positions by 30 per cent by the year 2020 compared with 2010. For Germany, company-wide this corresponds to a share of 20.2 per cent. In 2012 this value was 15.5 per cent and worldwide 13.6 per cent. In order to pave the way to a managerial position for more women, for example, the “Focus Track” programme was started. The main focus is on the themes of network competence, personality, self-management and career planning. At the end of 2012 the Lufthansa Group employed 116.957 people worldwide from 147 nations, including 44.7 per cent women.

The Lufthansa Group once again fulfilled its social responsibilities in diverse ways in 2012. It supported numerous projects in the areas of social welfare, culture, education, environment and sports. For example, as a partner of disabled athletes, the Group also sponsored the film project “GOLD – Du kannst mehr als du denkst” (“GOLD – You can do more than you think”), which told the story of three world class athletes on their way to the Paralympics in London.

The engagement of the Lufthansa Group in the area of corporate responsibility was also recognized once again in 2012 with various awards, for example, with the award of the “Gold Eco Airline of The Year” by the trade journal Air Transport World or the first place in the category “Environment” in the “Airline Strategy Awards” of the trade magazine Airline Business.