World Environment Day on June 5th each year focuses on the challenges of maintaining an intact environment. Austrian Airlines is aware of its responsibility and has therefore been working for years to reduce the company's ecological footprint.

One of the most promising means of reducing CO₂-Emissions is the use of sustainable fuels instead of fossil fuels such as kerosene. However, such fuels are currently many times more expensive than conventional kerosene. “There are already synthetic fuels on the market - but still on a laboratory scale and therefore also at pharmacist prices. In order to enable mass development and production at the Vienna location, a location initiative must therefore be launched, ”emphasizes CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech.

“The EU and its member states must ensure that European airlines are not exposed to a competitive disadvantage compared to companies from third countries through the use of alternative fuels,” demands Alexis von Hoensbroech. National or regional solo efforts, however, lead to a distortion of competition and negative environmental effects, since non-EU airlines would operate “tankering”. These airlines then fill up significantly larger quantities of kerosene at home in order to be able to cover the way back. This increases the weight of the aircraft and thus also the CO₂Emissions.

What measures is Austrian Airlines already taking?

In order to reduce emissions in the long term, Austrian Airlines has been using climate-friendly measures for years. For example, with AIRail, the Lufthansa subsidiary has been offering the option of an attractive rail connection from Linz, Salzburg and Graz to Vienna Airport since 2014 in order to avoid climate-damaging short-haul flights. 

Since 2018, as part of the ReOil project, together with OMV and Vienna Airport, Austrian Airlines has been processing plastic cups and other plastic items on board into crude oil and subsequently into kerosene. In the refinery process alone, 45 percent would be CO₂ saved. 

And since this spring, passengers on the “Compensaid” platform have also been able to offset their emissions by purchasing alternative fuels. Since 2008, it has been possible to compensate for ticket purchases through climate projects. The greatest effect currently has new, and thus significantly, CO₂-more efficient and quieter aircraft, weight reduction and the most direct flight routes possible.