Airline ticket prices are set to rise again. After i increases of 20% registered this summer, fares will undergo a further increase starting from 1 January 2025, with increases that could reach up to 70 euros per route. These increases are attributed to measures in the European plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, part of the European Green Deal.
The airlines, starting with Lufthansa, have justified these increases as necessary to cover the additional costs linked to the community package on the trading of polluting emissions quotas (ETS) for the aviation and maritime sectors. The objectives of the European Green Deal stipulate that by 2050, airlines must significantly reduce their CO2 emissions through the use of some green fuel. The new average fares, in fact, could increase by around 20 euros per ticket from 2025 and rise up to 35 euros in 2030 in Italy.
Compensation costs influence airline ticket prices
Airlines will also be forced to offset emissions by planting trees or taking other measures to absorb the carbon dioxide emitted. Furthermore, from 2025, all flights departing from the EU, UK, Norway and Switzerland will have to adhere to these new environmental standards.
Despite these extra costs, airlines are reporting record profits, thanks to increased air traffic and high ticket prices. Ryanair, for example, it closed fiscal year 2024 with a net profit of 192 billion. Lufthansa, along with other airlines, has also benefited from the increase in demand, despite problems on the supply side.
Companies are investing in more modern planes, engines that burn less fuel, and electric or hydrogen power technologies. However, they estimate that the extra costs of meeting environmental targets could amount to around €800 billion by 2050. These investments are seen as essential to reduce the environmental impact of the aviation sector and contribute to global sustainability goals.
