Environmental Responsibility

• Environmental protection is a principal corporate objective

Our commitment to preserving the environment exemplifies our corporate culture. We strive to satisfy the diverse demands of our staff members, partners and clients relating to environmental sustainability, economic viability, safety, quality and comfort.

• Sustainability as a guiding principle

Sustainability means utilizing energy and natural resources as economically as possible, identifying opportunities to employ renewables, and reducing our environmental impact wherever possible.

• Assessing environmental impact prior to making decisions

We strive to integrate environmental considerations into our decision-making processes.

• We gauge the consequences of our actions

We systematically assess our ecological footprint and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Strive for continuous improvement

We aim to go beyond merely complying with regulations and guidelines. To this end, we employ a wide range of technological solutions in order to minimize our ecological footprint.

• Environmental protection is a joint responsibility

Austrian aims to increase awareness among its staff members through training and information flow.

• Environmental protection requires innovation

We employ modern technologies and welcome creative suggestions from our own staff members to continuously improve our track record in resource efficiency.

• Our environmental responsibility extends to our immediate vicinity

Compliance with environmental norms and regulations is a criterion when it comes to selecting our partners. We provide clients and suppliers with information on our achievements and objectives with regard to environmental protection and climate change mitigation, and encourage them to engage with us on these issues.

• Open exchange and dialogue

We are receptive to any concerns regarding the environmental impact of our activities, and look to maintain effective communication channels to both the public and relevant authorities.

• By 2020: Increase fuel efficiency by 1.5% annually
• As of 2020: carbon neutral aviation growth
• By 2050: reduction in carbon emissions of 50% compared to 2005

Technological development

Modern aircraft emit fewer emissions and are more efficient. In 2017, Austrian recorded savings amounting to 2.5 million euros by replacing its entire Fokker fleet with Embraer aircraft, reducing the availability of print media on Boeing flights, and through an increase in engine efficiency of its B767 fleet.

Operational measures

We strive for a continuous improvement in efficiency of our flights processes, for instance using newly available flight management systems which can more readily identify wind patterns and optimize trajectories, or systematically loading aircraft so as to improve its aerodynamics.

Efficient infrastructure

“Single European Sky” is a long standing initiative launched by the European Commission in 2000. It aims to improve the performance of air traffic management and air navigation services by reducing the fragmentation of European airspace. It is predicted to result in an annual reduction of 10 million tons of CO2, corresponding to the emissions of the entire Austrian Airlines fleet spanning a period of 5 years.

Economic tools

Austrian Airlines welcomes the adoption of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, under which airlines will be required to buy carbon offsets to compensate for their growth in CO2 emissions as of 2021. CORSIA will first be implemented as a voluntary system from 2021–2026 and will be mandatory from 2027–2035, when it will apply to all ICAO member countries, with the exception of some developing countries and small markets.

Fuel Efficiency:

In early 2013, Austrian Airlines established a team to identify and implement, in collaboration with Lufthansa, projects to improve fuel efficiency, such as reducing the availability of print media onboard the aircraft or replacing life jackets with lighter models.

Energy Audit and Environmental Management System:

In 2015, Austrian Airlines carried out an energy audit for the first time in line with national legislation (Bundes-Energieeffizienzgesetz). We plan to implement an environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001 and EMAS.

Fly Greener:

This initiative launched in conjunction with Lufthansa aims at reducing on board waste. Crew members are encouraged to apply as environmental ambassadors and devise creative projects in order to reduce the energy consumption on board and minimize passenger waste.

Voluntary contributions scheme for passengers:

Austrian Airlines passengers are given the option of paying a contribution fee for the emissions generated by their flight when buying a ticket. Climate Austria’s emissions calculator assesses the emissions likely to be generated by the flight in question and kicks out a proposed sum to be paid by the customer on a voluntary basis. The donations collected thus far have enabled the creation of a wind farm, a solar power plant and a number of biomass plants.

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