Lufthansa aims to use some biofuel

Cologne, Germany-based Deutsche Lufthansa (OTC: DLAKY) announced plans to clean up emissions at the airline, aiming to use 10 percent biofuel in its fleet by 2020.

The company set a series of environmental goals, targeting a 25 percent cut of carbon dioxide emissions by 2020.

"Lufthansa has in recent years succeeded in decoupling traffic growth from its deleterious impact on the environment," said Wolfgang Mayrhuber, chairman and CEO of Lufthansa.

"Since 1991, half our traffic growth has been achieved without any increase in CO2 emissions."

The airline said it also supports the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe's target of reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 80 percent by 2020 compared with the level in the year 2000.

One of the world's largest airline companies, Lufthansa said it also backs ecologically-oriented incentive systems, such as emission-based landing fees, which were introduced earlier this year at Frankfurt and Munich Airports.

Lufthansa operates about 500 aircraft from hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, and Zurich.

"Our strategic environmental programe for safeguarding mobility clearly demonstrates that we are firmly intent on doing our share in the future in shouldering our responsibility for environment and climate protection," said Mayrhuber.

The airline said it plans to further pursue noise abatement measures and is cooperating in related research projects designed to achieve the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe's objective of halving noise emissions by 2020.

Lufthansa said it also plans to continue to advocate within international organizations for a practicable solution for including air traffic in emissions trading.

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