Brussels Airlines, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary, has refrained from introducing a fuel surcharge amid escalating jet fuel costs, distinguishing it from past practices and environmental levies. Historical precedents show the carrier adjusted surcharges reactively: in 2008, it reduced European flight surcharges by €5 to €32 per segment and long-haul Africa routes by €15 to €100 per segment as crude oil prices fell, effective for tickets issued from November 4. Earlier instances included temporary fuel surcharges with SAS and SN Brussels Airlines to offset rocketing fuel expenses.
Currently, with jet fuel prices climbing, no new fuel surcharge announcements appear. Instead, the airline implements an Environmental Cost Surcharge from January 1, 2025, on flights departing EU-27, UK, Norway, and Switzerland. Ranging €1-€5 in economy for short/medium-haul to €36-€72 in first class for long-haul, it offsets regulatory costs like the EU’s 2% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blending mandate under ReFuelEU Aviation, EU ETS adjustments, and CORSIA. Tickets issued from June 26, 2024, display these amounts, varying by distance and class; non-Lufthansa operated segments label it as “International/Domestic Surcharge.”
This surcharge supports Lufthansa’s goals of net-zero by 2050 and halving CO2 emissions by 2030 versus 2019, via fleet upgrades like three A320neo additions by summer 2026, cutting CO2 by up to 20% and noise by half. SAF reduces lifecycle emissions up to 80% but costs three to five times more than conventional fuel. Brussels Airlines also offers Green Fares, funding extra SAF purchases for voluntary emission cuts.