Lufthansa announced on Tuesday that it will introduce an environmental charge of up to 72 euros on its fares, following the implementation of new EU regulations aimed at reducing emissions.

This move aligns Lufthansa with other European airlines seeking to manage the costs associated with these environmental measures.

The surcharge, ranging from 1 euro to 72 euros depending on the ticket type, will be applied to all flights departing from EU countries, the UK , Norway, and Switzerland.

Some increases will take effect from June 26, covering departures from January 1, 2025, onwards.

This fee aims to offset the rising costs linked to regulatory requirements, such as the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is crucial for reducing aviation's carbon footprint.

Lufthansa's shares dipped initially following the announcement but later recovered.

The airline sector, responsible for about 2% of global emissions, faces significant challenges in decarbonizing, as flight fuel alternatives remain limited.

New EU regulations mandate that fuel suppliers ensure 2% of fuel at EU airports is SAF by 2025, escalating to 6% by 2030 and 70% by 2050.

These measures are expected to increase operational costs for airlines.

(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Analysts predict other airlines will follow Lufthansa's lead to manage the escalating costs of EU environmental regulations.

Air France-KLM, which imposed an SAF contribution charge in January 2022, is reportedly considering similar adjustments to its fees.

MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ Germany: The top choice for obtaining multiple-entry Schengen Visa this year Schengen visas get costlier by 12% after European Union hikes fee Is travel insurance mandatory for Schengen Visa applications? « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT However, British budget carriers easyJet and Wizz Air have stated they will not introduce similar surcharges.

EasyJet emphasized its focus on carbon reductions through hydrogen technology, while Wizz Air urged governments to provide incentives to support the aviation industry's environmental goals without burdening passengers.

In the United States, airlines like United and Southwest have not introduced environmental surcharges.

Earlier this year, Singapore introduced a levy on flight tickets to fund SAF costs, and Lufthansa's CEO Carsten Spohr previously warned that achieving EU targets would be challenging, suggesting that increased costs would be passed on to customers.

Lufthansa's " Environmental Cost Surcharge " will apply to all its airlines except Eurowings tickets sold directly by the company.

The surcharge will raise economy fares by up to five euros on short and medium-haul flights and business class fares by up to seven euros.

For long-haul flights, business fares will increase by 18 to 36 euros, and first-class fares by up to 72 euros from 2025.