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Climate-conscious
travel

Mobility is part of our everyday lives – but until now it has often been associated with emissions that harm the climate. Air travel produces greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. According to estimates, global air travel is responsible for around 3 to 5 per cent of man-made global warming.

Travellers have the opportunity to actively improve their personal carbon footprint. However, it is primarily the responsibility of airlines, airports, aircraft and fuel manufacturers, policymakers and other partners in the aviation sector to find and implement better technological solutions.

Less luggage means fewer emissions

Light luggage is better: every extra kilo in your suitcase increases the aircraft’s weight – and thus its kerosene consumption. So if you pack light, you’re not only being kinder to your back, but also to the environment.

A smarter way to get to the airport

Stuttgart Airport is one of the best-connected locations in Baden-Württemberg. Travelling by S-Bahn, light rail, bus or bicycle reduces emissions – as do journeys by electric car or car-sharing.

It’s worth staying longer

If you’re flying a long way, you should stay longer. Whilst the emissions from the flight remain the same, they are spread over more days of travel if you stay longer.

The environmental organisation WWF recommends a stay of at least eight days for journeys of up to 2,000 kilometres – such as from STR to Crete. For long-haul trips, the ideal is 15 days or more.

Conscious travel creates space for relaxation – and allows more time to get to know the country and its people in depth.

Look out for environmental certifications when booking accommodation

When choosing accommodation, it’s worth checking for environmental certifications. Whether it’s a hotel, hostel or campsite – reputable, certified establishments implement specific measures to save energy and resources on site.

It’s best to look out for these labels when you make your booking.

How big is the carbon footprint of a flight?

Here’s an example: a flight from Stuttgart to Crete produces around 400 kilograms of CO₂ per person – so around 800 kilograms for a return journey. The exact amount of emissions varies depending on the route, aircraft type and seat class.

Tip: If you want to know the exact figure, you can calculate the CO₂ emissions online and then offset them.

When offsetting a flight, you should be aware that the emissions from the flight are still generated. Carbon offset contributions typically support climate protection projects, but they do not replace the avoidance of emissions.

What is the principle of offsetting?

Offsetting refers to offsetting of CO₂ emissions. This means that emissions generated by a flight are offset elsewhere – for example, by reducing, sequestering or storing CO₂, or by expanding the use of renewable energy.

Those who offset their emissions are investing in projects that protect the climate. When choosing a provider, it is essential to ensure that they meet the highest quality standards and are certified by an independent body.

Offsetting with atmosfair

Offset emissions and support development work

By making a voluntary contribution to the non-profit organisation atmosfair, you can offset CO₂ emissions by supporting climate protection projects worldwide. The idea is that emissions are reduced elsewhere – for example, in places where they would otherwise be generated by fossil fuels.

An example: in Honduras, a small hydroelectric power station supplies surrounding villages with clean electricity. This prevents around 36,000 tonnes of CO₂ from being emitted each year. At the same time, the project promotes education, technology transfer and local value creation – thereby contributing to the region’s development.

According to its own figures, atmosfair achieves 90 per cent of its CO₂ savings in accordance with the CDM Gold Standard, the strictest quality standard available. All projects are certified and independently audited.

At atmosfair, the cost of flight offsetting takes into account all the climate impacts of flying. Each contribution is confirmed with a donation receipt.

FLY on SAF

Promoting fossil-free kerosene

With FLY on SAF, fossil kerosene can be replaced by what is known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) – an aviation fuel produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste.

The benefits of SAF at a glance:

Around 80 % fewer CO₂ emissions
Up to 90  % fewer particulates and sulphur – for better air quality
Up to 3  % lower fuel consumption

(according to the provider)

SAF is currently still more expensive than conventional fuel and accounts for less than 1 % of global production. By choosing the FLY on SAF offer, you are helping to increase the use of SAF in aviation.

Good to know: The SAF funded by your contribution is not used on your flight, but is refuelled at another airport closer to the synthetic kerosene production facility. The climate benefit is credited to you personally via a verified certificate.

The carbon footprint of air travel

A flight’s carbon footprint involves more than just CO₂ emissions. Burning kerosene produces other substances alongside carbon dioxide, and there are effects that influence the climate.

At typical cruising altitude – at around minus 40 degrees – the air is cold and often humid. This leads to the formation of contrails and veil clouds, which contribute to global warming. Most of these dissipate quickly, whilst others can persist for hours and contribute to cloud formation.

Furthermore, nitrogen oxides from aircraft engines at high altitudes promote the formation of ozone. This, too, has an impact on the climate.

Conclusion: The carbon footprint of a flight includes not only CO₂ emissions but also other climate-impacting effects of flying.

Reducing aviation emissions

Synthetic, electricity-based fuels and innovative propulsion technologies are seen as key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in aviation . For this transition to succeed, collaboration is needed between aircraft and fuel manufacturers, airlines, airports, policymakers and other partners. Together, they are working to reduce aviation emissions in the long term.

Lower fuel consumption thanks to more efficient engines

Modern aircraft generally consume significantly less fuel than their older predecessors. This also results in lower CO₂ emissions per flight.

Through targeted support for innovation, Stuttgart Airport uses its charges scheme to provide financial incentives for the use of quieter and more fuel-efficient aircraft. The charges scheme was tightened in this regard in 2019.

This is one of the reasons why models such as the Airbus A320neo and A321neo are now a familiar sight at STR.

Airport charges

Electricity-based kerosene instead of fossil-based kerosene

Synthetically produced kerosene is no longer a pipe dream. It has been successfully tested and can be produced using the so-called ‘power-to-liquid’ process based on renewable electricity. However, the quantities currently available are still limited.

For example: since 2021, the non-profit organisation atmosfair has been producing e-kerosene in Germany in collaboration with its partner Solarbelt.

Stuttgart Airport is specifically supporting the use of alternative fuels through financial incentives in its fee schedule.

Electric Flight

In Stuttgart, work is being carried out in collaboration with partners from research and industry on new propulsion technologies for aviation. H2FLY GmbH, a spin-off from the University of Ulm and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), is developing fuel cell propulsion systems for aircraft. Stuttgart Airport has long supported this research, including through funding.

A milestone: the Hy4 hydrogen fuel-cell aircraft celebrated its world premiere at STR in 2016. It is electrically powered and can carry up to four people.

To drive development forward, the first electric passenger aircraft will be allowed to take off and land at Stuttgart for one year free of charge.

On the road to the future

It will still be some time before these innovations are available on a large scale and at competitive prices. The wider adoption of new propulsion technologies and alternative fuels requires a clear regulatory framework – such as an industrial policy strategy for targeted support and the expansion of production capacity for alternative fuels. The transformation of the aviation sector can only succeed if sufficient quantities are available.

Although Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH (FSG) can only influence the carbon footprint of aviation indirectly, it is providing important impetus through technology funding and financial incentives.

Destination STRzero

With its carbon strategy, known as STRzero, and its Energy and Climate Master Plan, the airport is starting with itself. It is implementing projects to reduce CO₂ emissions at its own site. A good example is the switch from diesel to electric vehicles in its own apron fleet.

The aim is to continuously reduce the CO₂ footprint in Scopes 1 and 2 – that is, within the airport’s direct sphere of influence. Ultimately, the Baden-Württemberg regional airport is to be operated on a net-zero greenhouse gas basis by 2040. This is stipulated by the Baden-Württemberg Climate Protection Act.