Lufthansa Airlines at the Frankfurt and Munich hubs, as well as Lufthansa CityLine, have once again successfully been validated under the demanding European EMAS Regulation (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme). With this achievement, the airline once more sends a strong signal of corporate environmental responsibility in 2025. The external EMAS environmental audit confirms the continuous development of the environmental management system and its deep integration across operations. Through comprehensive audits and site inspections, independent experts gained an objective overview of processes, while discussions with specialist departments provided valuable insight into employees’ shared values and commitment to sustainability.
“With the Environmental Statement 2025, we celebrate a special anniversary: 25 years ago, Lufthansa CityLine became the first airline worldwide to receive validation under the demanding EMAS standard. Since then, we have consistently advanced our operational environmental management system. Through more efficient use of resources and optimized processes at Lufthansa Airlines and Lufthansa CityLine, we are driving environmental and economic objectives forward at the same time. We remain firmly committed to this path even in economically challenging times,” says Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines.
EMAS is a system developed by the European Union for environmental management and environmental auditing, which companies may voluntarily adopt. Under this scheme, a company’s environmental management system is examined in detail through independent external assessments.
EMAS at Lufthansa Airlines
Lufthansa CityLine was the first airline worldwide to introduce an environmental concept and receive the demanding EMAS seal in 2000. In 2018, Lufthansa Airlines introduced a certified environmental management system at its Munich site, which in 2022 was merged with that of Lufthansa CityLine. In December 2023, the Frankfurt hub followed. Expanding EMAS validation to the core Lufthansa brand at both Frankfurt and Munich was a major milestone. Through the joint EMAS validation of both companies, Lufthansa Airlines continues to strengthen its sustainability strategy. In a shared Environmental Statement, both organizations publicly report on their progress.
Across the specialist departments of Lufthansa Airlines and Lufthansa CityLine, around 40 environmental coordinators are actively advancing sustainability initiatives. Digital solutions play a key role in improving transparency of environmental impacts and reducing emissions, for example through data-based analysis and monitoring systems. In 2024, existing measures were continued and new ones introduced, including shutting down engines during taxiing, an enhanced recycling programme, and optimized loading of beverage supplies to save fuel and reduce CO₂ emissions.
