Lufthansa Airlines, the flagship air carrier of Germany and the largest airlines in Europe will use bio-synthetic kerosene for all its commercial flights from April 2011. The project which will cost the airline approximately 6.6 million euros is backed by the German government within the framework of its aviation research programme aimed at underpinning the sustain-ability of air traffic. According to a press release, the bio-fuel project planned by Lufthansa was presented in Berlin by Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Chairman and CEO, Lufthansa, with Peter Hinze, Parliamentary State Secretary and Government Aerospace Coordinator, and Professor Dr Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Chairman, Executive Board, German Aerospace Center (DLR).

As per the ongoing effort, Lufthansa will begin a six-month trial with an Airbus A321 on scheduled commercial flights on the Hamburg-Frankfurt-Hamburg route in April 2011 and at present the airline is making preparations for the practical tests.

“This is a further consistent step in a proven sustainability strategy. We can see the opportunities this fuel offers and give serious attention to the debate on the requisite raw materials. But we first want to acquire experience in daily practice in the use of bio-fuels. We are doing pioneering work in that no other airline to date has operated an aircraft engine with bio-fuel over a longer term. Our fuel is sustainable. No rain forest will be deforested for Lufthansa bio-fuel. In the procurement of bio-fuel, we ensure that it originates from a sustainable supply and production process. Our licensed suppliers must provide proof of the sustainability of their processes,” said Mayrhuber.

“This bio-fuel testing project is a successful example of integrating research efforts for the purpose of realising climate care objectives. Our project is designed to research the long term alternatives to conventional aviation jet fuel. The object is to gather data on pollutants from bio-fuel in comparison with conventional kerosene over a longer period,” states Wörner.