German Court Bans Sustainable Aviation Fuel Carbon-Offset Claims
The Higher Regional Court of Cologne (Case No. 6 U 68/25) prohibited an airline on July 8, 2026 from advertising that customers can "reduce flight-related CO2 emissions directly during the booking process" by paying a surcharge for sustainable aviation fuel. The court held that the claim constituted unfair advertising under the German Act against Unfair Competition (UWG) because it withheld materi
BY FRONTIER DESK · JULY 24, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
The Higher Regional Court of Cologne (Case No. 6 U 68/25) prohibited an airline on July 8, 2026 from advertising that customers can "reduce flight-related CO2 emissions directly during the booking process" by paying a surcharge for sustainable aviation fuel. The court held that the claim constituted unfair advertising under the German Act against Unfair Competition (UWG) because it withheld material information — specifically, the precise point in time at which the SAF would actually be used. No permission to appeal was granted. The ruling is a direct enforcement action under evolving EU greenwashing standards and illustrates the precision now required in any sustainability claim tied to a specific customer action. For any client marketing carbon offset or SAF programs, the timing and mechanics of the underlying environmental action must be disclosed with particularity.