Delta, Lufthansa airlines to raise prices to cover emissions

NEW YORK (AP) — Within days of new European rules on carbon emissions produced by passenger jets, two major airlines say they will raise fares.

Delta Air Lines Inc. began adding $6 per round trip to the price of tickets sold in the U.S. for travel to Europe. And Deutsche Lufthansa AG said it will raise prices but not right away.

Under European regulations that took effect this week, airlines flying in and out of Europe must get certificates to pay for the carbon-dioxide emissions produced by their flights. They will get free credits to cover most flights this year but must buy or trade for credits to cover the rest.

Lufthansa said it would have to buy at least 35 percent of the certificates it needs based on past emissions and recent growth. It put the cost at (euro) 130 million ($168 million) in 2012. The German airline said that it will pass the cost to customers by raising current fuel surcharges, but it didn’t estimate the per-passenger increase.