Summary

  • Austrian Airlines found guilty of misleading customers with false claims of carbon-neutral flights and 100% SAF use.
  • Court ruling confirms that flights are not operated without carbon-emitting kerosene, making them not carbon-neutral.
  • Airline amends its language and now offers options for offsetting CO₂ emissions during booking, with specified SAF percentage used in flights.


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The flag carrier of Austria, Austrian Airlines, was found guilty of making a false impression of offering carbon neutral flights. The ruling was handed down to the airline in June but only been made public earlier this week. As a posting requirement, the airline posted the court ruling on its social media (Twitter) page, showing the details of the release.

The court ruling shows that the airline is guilty of misleading the customers by claiming carbon-neutral flights or the use of 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) onboard its flights to Vienna. The airline had advertised the possibility of flying to the Vienna Biennale “carbon-free”. That, in reality, has been found to be a false and misleading claim by the court.


The court ruling has been made public

Austrian Airlines was found guilty of false advertisement about having its customers fly to Biennale with no harm to the planet. The airline claimed to be flying completely carbon-free and advertised its flights with false statements on its website. During its 2022 advertisement campaign, the airline claimed the possibility of carbon-neutral flights through the use of SAF. In reality, the production of SAF also involves the emissions of gasses in the environment.

shutterstock_2267200011 - Vienna, Schwechat - January 07, 2023: A Boeing 767 long haul aircraft of austrian airline AUA landing at its homebase Vienna

Photo: Photofex_AUT/Shutterstock

The court released its ruling on the matter by saying that no flights are being operated without the use of kerosene, which emits carbon. A small percentage of SAF is added to the kersonese to offset some carbon emissions. This, in essence, does not make the flight carbon-neutral. The document showing the court ruling also states that the information on the Austrian Airlines website must be changed to remove any false claims about the carbon-neutral flights to Vienna.

The court ruling does not come with any financial penalties against the airline. However, the airline has been mandated to relate information regarding the use of SAF and net-zero emission programs onboard commercial flights responsibly. The airline must not seek to portray false information to its customers.

Amendments to the airline’s advertisement

Austrian Airlines seemed to have taken the court ruling seriously by changing the language around the sustainability of its flight offerings. While the airline allows customers to plan a carbon-neutral trip across its network, it is more clear in its language and free of false claims. The airline currently states on its website,

You can already offset the CO₂ emissions of your flight during the booking by either contributing to high-quality climate protection projects, using sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)* or a combination of both.

Austrian Airlines Airbus A320 Tails

Photo: Austrian Airlines.

The airline also ensures that it advertises the percentage of SAF being used in its flights. Moreover, other climate offset projects must be performed to bring the flight emissions down to net zero. The airline specifies its existing green fare by stating,

If you choose to buy a green fare, your flight will be made CO₂-neutral through a fixed combination of the use of sustainable aviation fuels (20% share) and a contribution to high-quality climate protection projects (80% share).

What are your thoughts on the court ruling about false claims made by Austrian Airlines? Tell us in the comments section.

Source: The Brussels Times

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