Austrian Airlines Ordered to Stop Misleading Climate Adverts

Vienna — Austrian Airlines has been legally prohibited from issuing misleading advertising about sustainable fuels.

In future, the Lufthansa subsiduary will not be allowed to advertise with statements such as "fly CO2-neutral with us," according to a court ruling published by Austria's Association for Consumer Information (VKI) on Monday.

The consumer organization filed a lawsuit against the airline after it offered passengers the option of refuelling with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for flights to Venice last year.

The fuel is made from recycled cooking oil instead of petroleum. By using statements such as "100% SAF", the false impression was created that these flights would be carried out in a climate-neutral manner, the VKI argued.

The Regional Court of Korneuburg upheld the consumer protectionists' case. The airline had not mentioned that for technical reasons only up to 5% of alternative fuel could be added to conventional aviation fuel and that Austrian Airlines only used 0.4% SAF.

In addition, it was not pointed out in the advertising that the optional booking of SAF increased the ticket price by more than 50%, the ruling said.

Austrian Airlines said it took note of the ruling and would take it into account in its advertising.

"It follows from the judgement that Austrian Airlines should have provided clearer information about the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), their possible uses and advantages with regard to the advertising statement in question," it said.

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