Deutsche Bank announced a new agreement with Lufthansa group to invest in the deployment of sustainable aviation fuel, as part of its strategy to reduce the climate impact of business travel.

Under the new agreement, Deutsche Bank will invest in approximately 1,600 metric tonnes (2 million liters) of SAF. The companies said that the transaction will enable Lufthansa to reduce fuel lifecycle carbon emissions by approximately 5,500 metric tons compared with conventional jet fuel, equivalent to the CO₂ emissions of approximately 520 flights between Frankfurt and London.

Generally produced from sustainable resources, like waste oils and agricultural residues, SAF is seen as one of the key tools to help decarbonize the aviation industry in the near- to medium-term. SAF producers estimate the fuels can result in lifecycle GHG emissions reductions of as much as 80% relative to conventional fuels. Efforts to meaningfully increase the use of SAF by airlines face significant challenges, however, including the low supply currently available on the market, and prices well above those of conventional fossil-based fuels.

Jörg Eigendorf, Chief Sustainability Officer of Deutsche Bank, said:

“Sustainable Aviation Fuel is an important instrument for Deutsche Bank in our efforts to nearly halve our CO₂ emissions along our supply chain by 2030 compared with 2019. It is also important for us to send a signal: only if there is reliable demand will SAF producers invest in production and make alternative fuels more competitive.”

Lufthansa said the agreement forms part of its broader efforts to help customers reduce the climate impact of air travel. The airline group offers a range of SAF-based products for private and corporate customers and reported that more than 5% of its passengers selected a more sustainable travel option in 2025, including its Green Fares offering. The company added that SAF sales more than doubled year-over-year across its product portfolio.

Frank Naeve, Senior Vice President Global Sales and Distribution, Lufthansa Group, said:

“Deutsche Bank’s decision to support the deployment of SAF with Lufthansa Group at this scale is a compelling demonstration that more sustainable flying is becoming increasingly important in the business travel sector.”