Austrian Airlines renews EU environmental management certification

Austrian Airlines has renewed its registration under the EU's Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), completing the first three-year validation cycle since it joined the system in 2023.

The carrier also published its environmental report for 2025 alongside the renewal. According to the airline, applying AeroSHARK film, a textured surface coating meant to reduce drag, to four of its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft cut aerodynamic resistance by about 0.7 percent over the first full year of use. The airline said this saved roughly 930 tonnes of jet fuel and nearly 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The report also pointed to progress on onboard waste. The share of recyclable plastic and aluminium products used in cabin service rose from 76 percent to around 80 percent, the airline said.

EMAS is a voluntary environmental management instrument used within the European Union to help organisations assess and improve their environmental performance. Validation requires periodic external review. Austrian Airlines' renewal marks the completion of its initial full cycle under the scheme.

No further details were given on future targets tied to the certification. The airline did, however, present the figures as evidence of continued efficiency gains across its fleet and operations.