Austrian is aware of its responsibility to the climate and is committed to a sustainable future. The focus is on a clearly defined roadmap to reduce CO2 emissions, combined with the responsible use of natural resources. Sustainability is far more than a goal: it is firmly anchored in our corporate culture. Because not only do we want to act responsibly in the here and now, we also want to actively contribute to a liveable future for generations to come.
Green Fares
A carbon-neutral footprint by 2050. This is the ambitious goal set by Austrian and the Lufthansa Group. To achieve this goal, we want to reduce our aviation emissions as far as possible. These efforts include compensation measures and measures to reduce CO2 emissions, such as the use of new fuel-efficient aircraft, the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and the continuous improvement of operational efficiency.
Environmental responsibility
In order to halve net CO2 emissions compared to 2019 by 2030 through measures to reduce CO2 emissions and compensation measures, we are following a clearly defined roadmap. This was successfully validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) in August 2022. For CO2 reduction, we are focusing in particular on accelerating the modernisation of our fleet, continuously optimising flight operations and the use of sustainable aviation fuels.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is the generic term for all aviation fuels produced without the use of fossil raw materials like petroleum or natural gas. Sustainable Aviation Fuels are regarded as a key element for more climate-friendly flying, as they can be integrated into regular flight operations without infrastructure changes and make a significant contribution to the energy transition in aviation. SAF is made on the basis of biomass, such as used cooking oils and fats, and thus saves around 80% of CO2 emissions over the life cycle compared to conventional kerosene.
AeroSHARK
Austrian is the first airline in the world to equip four Boeing 777-200ER with innovative AeroSHARK technology. The film developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF imitates the streamlined skin of a shark and reduces drag. This can reduce fuel consumption by up to 1% per flight. Calculated for the entire Austrian B777 fleet equipped with AeroSHARK, this means a saving of around 8,300 tonnes of CO2 by 2028, corresponding to approximately 46 flights from Vienna to New York.
SAFt
Together with the Viennese company waterdrop®, we offer SAFt, a refreshing microdrink designed to increase awareness about the use of sustainable SAF. The product, designed exclusively by waterdrop® for Austrian, offers passengers three different drink cubes. Every passenger who chooses SAFt invests in one litre of SAF used on future flights.
Melangerie 2Go
With the “Austrian Melangerie to go” initiative, Austrian is taking a clear stand against food waste on board. On longer European flights to Austria, passengers have the option of purchasing freshly prepared but unsold food at a discounted price shortly before landing in Vienna. This means that high-quality products can be used sustainably, and passengers can continue to enjoy them at their leisure after their arrival.
AIRail: Train and plane
In cooperation with ÖBB (the Austrian Federal Railways), the first AIRail connection between Vienna Airport and Linz was launched in December 2014. This cooperation offers passengers an alternative to a feeder flight to reach Vienna Airport. AIRail currently offers connections between Vienna Airport and the city centres of Linz, Graz, Salzburg and Innsbruck.
