Lufthansa passenger flights support climate research
December 11, 2024
Up to three Lufthansa Group aircraft take to the skies daily equipped with specialised instruments to gather climate-relevant information, helping scientists refine models and improve weather forecasts.
On Monday, for example, Discover Airlines flight 4Y56 from Frankfurt to Orlando contributed to this effort. The Airbus A330-300, registered as D-AIKE, was scheduled to depart at 4:45 PM local time, flying approximately 7,600 kilometres over 10 hours and 45 minutes while continuously collecting atmospheric data.
Lufthansa began collaborating with climate research organisations in 1994, establishing itself as a partner for advancing scientific understanding of atmospheric processes.
The airline works closely with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Jülich Research Centre (FZJ), equipping aircraft with cutting-edge measurement systems that operate during regular commercial flights.
This work forms part of the European IAGOS programme (In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System), which Lufthansa has supported since its inception. The programme deploys scientific instruments aboard passenger aircraft to collect data on atmospheric composition, greenhouse gases, and aerosols.
Lufthansa was the first airline to install IAGOS systems, starting in 2011 on its Airbus A340-300 Viersen (D-AIGT). Since then, two Airbus A330-300 aircraft—D-AIKO and D-AIKE—have joined the initiative, with the latter operating under Discover Airlines since 2022.
After each flight, the data collected is transmitted to the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Toulouse, where it is stored in a central database. This information is freely accessible to researchers and is currently used by around 300 organisations worldwide, including universities, meteorological services, and climate institutes.
The data has been instrumental in improving weather forecasting, identifying long-term atmospheric changes, and enhancing climate models.
Grazia Vittadini, chief technology officer at Lufthansa Group, said: “We are proud to have been able to make a significant contribution to climate research for 30 years. The further development of aviation is deeply rooted in the DNA of the Lufthansa Group, and it is our aspiration to play a leading role in the development of new technologies.
“It inspires me to see the passion and experience with which Lufthansa Group colleagues continuously discover new ways to advance research. Through our commitment, we are helping to sustainably improve climate models and weather forecasts. Scientifically sound findings are the basis for targeted measures on the path to more sustainable aviation.”
Lufthansa’s efforts complement broader European and global initiatives to combat climate change. Accurate atmospheric data is essential as scientists and policymakers work to address challenges such as reducing aviation’s environmental footprint and developing sustainable technologies.
In the UK, the aviation industry is also aligning with sustainability goals, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 under the UK Government’s Jet Zero Strategy.
Lufthansa’s collaboration with international research networks highlights the role airlines can play in bridging industry and science to address global environmental challenges.
