**A landmark corporate SAF purchase** Deutsche Bank has agreed to finance the purchase of approximately 1,600 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Lufthansa Group, a volume expected to avoid around 5,500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions — the equivalent of roughly 520 Frankfurt–London round trips on an Airbus A320neo. The deal is part of Lufthansa's expanding portfolio of "green" offers for corporate clients, where SAF is emerging as a critical lever for reducing Scope 3 emissions tied to business travel. **How the SAF works operationally** The SAF is a drop-in fuel derived from biogenic residues. It is injected into Lufthansa's airport infrastructure within six months of purchase and blended with conventional kerosene, requiring no modifications to engines or refuelling equipment. Lufthansa states that over its full lifecycle, the SAF used achieves at least an 80% reduction in carbon footprint compared to fossil jet fuel. These volumes are additional to regulatory quotas under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), with part of the eligible SAF co-financed through the European carbon allowance scheme. **Scope 3 emission targets drive demand** For Deutsche Bank, this contract supports its goal to nearly halve supply-chain CO₂ emissions by 2030 relative to 2019. Jörg Eigendorf, the bank's Chief Sustainability Officer, emphasised that reliable demand is essential to make SAF more competitive: "Only if there is reliable demand will SAF producers invest in production and make alternative fuels more competitive." Lufthansa's Senior Vice President Global Sales, Frank Naeve, called the deal a "convincing demonstration that more sustainable flying is becoming increasingly important in the business travel sector." The partnership extends a relationship that began in October 2025, when Deutsche Bank became the issuer of the Miles & More credit card. **Lufthansa's corporate SAF portfolio** Lufthansa has developed a suite of corporate products combining SAF and carbon offsets. Through "SAF bulk deals," companies can purchase large volumes of sustainable fuel; investments above €2,000 earn a Scope 3 certificate compliant with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, usable in non-financial reporting. The group also offers a "Sustainable Corporate Value Fare" that covers up to 30% of future flight emissions via SAF, with the remainder offset through climate projects. By 2025, around 1,700 companies worldwide had invested in SAF through Lufthansa, reflecting a rapidly structuring corporate market. **Growing market and strategic importance** Lufthansa reports rising demand for sustainable travel options from both individuals and corporate clients. In 2025, over 5% of the group's passengers chose a "more sustainable" option such as Green Fares, which combine SAF and carbon compensation. The volume of SAF sold by the group more than doubled year-on-year, driven by bulk contracts and partnerships, notably in Asia-Pacific and India. For Lufthansa, passenger and corporate engagement on SAF is a pillar of its sustainability strategy, alongside fleet modernisation, in-flight energy efficiency, intermodality, and over three decades of climate and weather research. This type of mechanism allows airlines to industrialise SAF use without disrupting current kerosene logistics, while meeting European regulatory expectations from ReFuelEU Aviation to EU ETS and future carbon accounting frameworks.