Fuel consumption per passenger per 100 km drops to 3.91 litres
In 2013 the passenger airlines in the Lufthansa Group beat the four-litre mark for the first time, with an average consumption of just 3.91 litres of kerosene per passenger per 100 kilometres. This is an improvement of 3.8 per cent over 2012. In short, the aviation group achieved over twice the annual efficiency target increase of 1.5 per cent set for the airline industry.
The second piece of good news: Absolute fuel consumption of the Lufthansa Group fell for the second time in a row since 2012, by 1.3 per cent year on year, despite a production increase of 2.3 per cent. In absolute terms, the Group’s fuel use decreased 114,152 tons compared to 2012 and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions fell by more than 359,587 tons, a benefit for the environment. This is roughly equivalent to the CO2 volume emitted annually by oil-fired heating systems in about 50,000 homes.
“The new record is a clear sign that all our efforts to increase fuel efficiency have taken hold. Ecologically and economically we have a great interest in making the most efficient use possible of the fuel we need to carry our passengers. That is one reason why we are investing billions every year in next-generation aircraft,” said Christoph Franz, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of the Lufthansa Group.
The Lufthansa Group is working continuously and systematically to improve the environmental impact of its international services. A department set up in 2013 specifically to improve fuel efficiency is currently examining almost 1,000 individual steps for realising further potential savings. They include programmes to achieve lasting weight reductions on board, testing and implementing new flight methods and developing intelligent software tools.
The most powerful lever for increasing efficiency is investing in technological progress, i.e. in the latest and most efficient aircraft. With its current fleet renewal programme, the biggest in the history of the Lufthansa Group, the company is making good progress in this direction. As of 31 December 2013, the Group had a total of 261 aircraft on its order list for delivery by 2025 – this represents capital expenditure of EUR 32bn at list prices. It will also make life much easier for those living near major air traffic hubs. For example, the 100 aircraft from the A320neo family ordered by the Lufthansa Group are fitted with highly efficient, quieter engines and reduce the noise footprint of take-off and landing by around 50 per cent.
