- Austrian Airlines successfully completes its first three-year EMAS validation cycle
- The renewed validation confirms the effectiveness of the airlines’ environmental management system
- The 2025 Environmental Report highlights measurable environmental progress and continuous improvement
Austrian Airlines has renewed its registration under the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) successfully completing its first three-year validation cycle. The renewed validation confirms the effectiveness of the airline’s environmental management system and its commitment to continuous improvement. Austrian Airlines has now been EMAS-validated since 2023.
EMAS at Austrian Airlines
This approach is embedded throughout the organisation. Austrian Airlines has a network of more than 40 environmental coordinators across its departments who integrate environmental expertise into day-to-day operations and help translate strategic objectives into concrete actions.
Alongside the renewed validation, Austrian Airlines is publishing its Environmental Report for the 2025 reporting year, setting out the company’s environmental measures and progress in detail.
“Sustainable environmental progress can only be achieved through consistent, long-term action. The successful renewal of our EMAS validation confirms that our environmental management system is effective and delivers measurable results. It reflects the commitment of our employees and encourages us to continue further improve our environmental performance year after year”, says Austrian Airlines CEO Annette Mann.
2025 environmental highlights
Over the course of 2025, the airline advanced several initiatives with measurable results. One key milestone was the first full year of AeroSHARK operations across Austrian Airlines’ four Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. Developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF, the innovative surface film is inspired by shark skin and helps reduce aerodynamic drag during flight. Operational data from the first year showed a drag reduction of approximately 0.7%, resulting in fuel savings of around 930 tonnes of kerosene and nearly 3,000 tonnes of avoided CO₂ emissions. Austrian Airlines was the first airline worldwide to equip the Boeing 777-200ER with this technology.
Further progress was achieved in reducing onboard waste. The share of recyclable plastic and aluminium among onboard service items increased from 76% in 2024 to around 80% by the end of 2025. The airline’s target is to reach 100% by 2027, with a particular focus on food packaging and passenger-facing products.
Austrian Airlines’ environmental approach
Austrian Airlines supports aviation decarbonization through fleet renewal, SAF and operational efficiency measures.