Lufthansa to raise ticket prices, some will be more expensive by up to 72 euros

(Patria) - German airline Lufthansa announced today that it will raise ticket prices due to an environmental surcharge intended to cover higher fuel costs.

Ticket prices will increase by one to 72 euros, depending on the type of ticket, on all flights departing from EU countries, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Switzerland, according to a Lufthansa statement.

The EU is asking carriers to gradually increase the use of sustainable fuel in flights departing from airports in EU member states, Reuters notes.

The environmental surcharge will "cover part of the additional costs that are continuously rising due to regulatory requirements to protect the environment" and include the use of sustainable aviation fuel from biological materials, which is considered key to reducing air traffic pollution, Lufthansa stated.

They added that the environmental protection cost surcharge will cover part of the increased costs in 2025.

A Lufthansa spokesperson claims that the introduction of the surcharge is not related to higher operating costs following numerous strikes since the beginning of the year.

Ahead of the release of its first-quarter financial report, the company had warned that it expected weaker business results due to strikes. The company currently does not expect further increases in additional costs.

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr warned last year that EU targets would be difficult to achieve, hinting at passing on higher costs to passengers.

Airlines have been warning for years that sustainable fuel regulations could increase their costs.

Air France-KLM introduced an environmental surcharge in January 2022, charging an additional 12 euros for business class tickets and four euros for economy class tickets.

EasyJet, Ryanair, and IAG were not available for comment on possible ticket price increases, Reuters notes.