The introduction of sustainable aviation fuel in air transport is progressing slowly. It lacks sufficient quantities and prices remain 4 to 5 times higher per liter than traditional Jet-A1 fuel. A campaign presented by Lufthansa Cargo at the ACCF conference, aims to help SAF achieve a breakthrough.
The price examples are impressive because they show little difference. Consumers have to pay €2.50 for a mango harvested in India and sold in a German supermarket, with transport expenditures included in the price. The same mango, if flown on board an SAF-powered aircraft, would cost €2.82 – just 32 euro cents more in comparison. For a 5 kg shipment of salmon flown from Stockholm to Tokyo, the end consumer in Japan pays €150.00, compared to €156.60 if the aircraft is SAF powered.
0.17 euros more
And a third example: a smartphone manufactured in China and flown from Shanghai to Frankfurt has a price tag of €1,200.00 when sold in a store, including transport costs. If SAF were used as energy, it would cost €1,200.17, i.e. neglectable 17 euro cents more.
An 8-page catalog published by Lufthansa Cargo and handed out at Frankfurt’s ACCF, shows impressive examples of how low the surcharge for a wide range of items would be if SAF had powered the aircraft engines instead of Jet-A1 fuel.
Without environmental targets, no change
When asked about the credibility of IATA’s goal to make air travel CO2-neutral by 2050, Bettina Petzold, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Lufthansa Cargo, replied that the aim is challenging, but without setting targets, there is not enough pressure for change. She reminded the audience that her carrier just signed a deal with Chinese e-tailer, Shein.
The MoU, signed on 19AUG25, includes a scheme to scale up the use of sustainable aviation fuel on Lufthansa Cargo flights for Shein deliveries. It is part of the company’s target to achieve a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. The strategy also includes modernizing the fleet and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions through tree planting campaigns.
Sovereign Speed favors HVO100
Reducing or even avoiding greenhouse CO2 emissions at road feeder services across Europe, is also a core target of logistics provider, Sovereign Speed, as Moritz Tölke, Director of Strategic Customer Green Projects, confirmed. During the panel on sustainability, he pointed out that this goal cannot be achieved without collaboration. Transformative thinking is needed, not just transactional thinking, the manager emphasized. “Our most successful projects are those that are planned together with logistics service providers and shippers, where everyone pulls together, is willing to break new ground operationally, and is prepared to take risks.”
In full swing
“HVO100 use is no longer tested in a pilot phase but is now in regular operation surpassing more than 1 million liters. This was only achieved because we collaborated with several customers to establish the process and obtain the certifications needed.” The usage of this fuel is in full swing, thanks to those Sovereign customers who are willing to break new ground. “We can organize trucks, but operational processes need a charging infrastructure, awareness, and the will to implement them.”
The HVO100 mentioned by Moritz is an alternative diesel fuel produced from renewable sources such as used cooking oils and animal fats. Compared to fossil diesel, it is more climate friendly. The acronym stands for ‘hydrotreated vegetable oil’.
