Lufthansa City. Photo: Shutterstock Lufthansa Airlines and Lufthansa CityLine pass EMAS validation at full throttle.
The two airlines have been validated at Frankfurt and Munich airports after successfully going through the European Union’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) assessment. This marks another sign of steady progress in their environmental management practices.
The audit process involves independent inspections, in-depth assessments, and discussions with staff, all aimed at getting a realistic view of how environmental goals are being implemented day-to-day.
Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines: "With the 2025 environmental statement, we are celebrating a special anniversary: 25 years ago, Lufthansa CityLine was the first airline worldwide to receive validation according to the demanding EMAS standard. Since then, we have been continuously working on the further development of our operational environmental management system. Through more efficient use of resources and optimized processes at Lufthansa Airlines and Lufthansa CityLine, we are advancing both environmental and economic goals. We are maintaining this course even in economically challenging times".
Developed by the European Union as a voluntary environmental management and auditing system, EMAS allows companies to track, measure, and improve their sustainability performance while setting high standards for transparency, ongoing improvement, and independent verification.
Lufthansa CityLine was the first airline in the world to earn the prestigious EMAS certification in 2000. Lufthansa Airlines followed in 2018 with a certified system at its Munich base, which later merged with CityLine in 2022. Frankfurt was added to the program in December 2023, marking a major milestone as both locations are now fully covered under the joint EMAS framework.
Today, about 40 environmental coordinators across Lufthansa Airlines and CityLine help drive sustainability efforts within their departments. Much of their work now relies on digital tools to make environmental impacts more visible and easier to measure. Data-driven systems are being used to monitor emissions, optimize operations, and identify where resources can be used more efficiently.
In 2024, Lufthansa continued several ongoing measures while also rolling out new ones. These include switching off engines during taxiing to reduce fuel burn, improving waste and recycling processes, and fine-tuning the way beverage supplies are loaded on aircraft. All these small changes add up to real CO₂ savings.
At 25 years in, Lufthansa’s commitment to EMAS shows that sustainability in aviation isn’t just a passing trend, but a long-term strategy woven into how the airline operates.