Innsbruck Airport

Flughafen Innsbruck

The environment is affected by transport worldwide, including that of the public aviation sector. Taking precautions to ensure environmental protection therefore is a substantial element of the business strategy of Tiroler Flughafenbetriebsgesellschaft m.b.H. (Tyrolean Airport Operating Company). Innsbruck Airport constantly sets new standards in terms of environmental protection, not only in Austria but also across Europe. 'Apart from fulfilling all legal conditions we decided a few years ago to raise the bar in this respect', Airport Managing Director Mag. Reinhold Falch explains the reasons for obtaining the first EMAS certification in the year 2000. 'Conducting our business activities in an environment-friendly manner across all divisions is to be considered a central aspect of our environmental management systen', Mr. Falch continues.

• Innsbruck was Austria's first airport to ban take-offs and landings of noisy Chapter II aircraft already in 1990.
• Innsbruck is subject to the strictest operating hours among all Austrian commercial airports
• Three noise level meters provide evidence that air traffic at Innsbruck Airport is less noisy than any of Innsbruck's main roads.
• Innsbruck was Austria's first airport to introduce an environmental management system and to receive an environmental certificate and is entitled to carry the EU Eco Management logo.
• The number of aircraft movements in both scheduled and charter operations has remained nearly constant since 1993.
• Strict interpretation of night flying restrictions (only life-saving organ transplant and ambulance flights are permitted)
• Noise-reducing approach and landing procedures
• Ultralight aircraft are prohibited
• Innsbruck was Austria's first (and still is the only!) airport to introduce noise-based landing fees in order to penalize noisy aircraft types

Austria`s first airport to hold an environmental certificate
Innsbruck Airport constantly sets new standards in terms of environmental protection, not only in Austria but also across Europe. It was the first airport to receive an environmental certificate in summer 2000 and is entitled to carry the EU Eco Management logo.

'Once again we have played a pioneering role and have devoted great efforts to develop an environmental management system in recent years', informs Airport Managing Director Mag. Reinhold Falch. This environmental management system is based on the guidelines of the European EMAS regulation (EMAS stands for Environmental Management Audit Scheme) and also includes an environmental statement clearly defining the environmental policy. The environmental management system was verfied and approved by no less than TÜV Bayern (Bavarian safety standards authority). In compliance with the EMAS regulation the airport was registered in the site directory of the Federal Environment Agency.

Innsbruck Airport is committed to providing transparency and has therefore issued an environmental statement which is available free of charge at the airport.


Noise-based landing fees
Innsbruck Airport is consistently assuming its pioneering role in terms of noise policy and was Austria`s first airport to introduce noise-based landing fees in order to further reduce aircraft noise. The introduction of noised-based landing fees as applied for by the Tiroler Flughafenbetriebsgesellschaft m.b.H. (Tyrolean Airport Operating Company) on the basis of the noise classification in effect at Zurich Airport was approved by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology as Austrìa`s supreme civil aviation authority in its notification of 4 May 2004 with retrospective effect from 1 April 2001. This means that noisy aircraft, in particular the types MD 80 and YAK 42, face additional fees of up to EUR 1,000 at Innsbruck Airport.