Czech Airlines passes final stage of an environmental audit on path to ISO 14001 international standard
Czech Airlines Airbus A319
Thu 6 Nov 2008 – Czech Airlines is awaiting final verification of its application for ISO 14001 certification following an environmental audit carried out by Det Norske Veritas, which focused on all aspects of the carrier’s activities, including flight and ground operations, aircraft maintenance and repair, training programmes for sales, support, technical and operational staff and crew.
“The implementation of this standard has brought our airline a comprehensive management system and a set of environmental protection tools to minimize the environmental impact of our business,” commented Jan Čejka, Director for Quality and the Environment at Czech Airlines. “It also increases our prestige with customers and business partners.
“The certification does not, however, complete our activities with regard to the environment as we have to prepare, for example, for the new European legislation that includes airlines in the Emissions Trading Scheme.”
The process to obtain ISO 14001 status started back in 2004 when the airline initiated an environmental management system. ISO 14001 certification is also held by the airline’s SkyTeam alliance partner Air France-KLM.
In addition to a continuing fleet renewal programme, which has involved taking delivery of new, more fuel-efficient Airbus A319/320 aircraft, other current green measures undertaken by Czech Airlines include the opening of a new waste water treatment station. It has also launched an emissions calculator for passengers that, as well as CO2 emissions, also works out other greenhouse gas emissions such as NOx on specific journeys.
