CzeCh airlines - České aerolinie

Environmental Care
annual report 2010 | 27
In 2010, Czech Airlines continued in its focused effort to care for the environment
and keep decreasing the impact its operations have on it. In 2008, a system of
environmental Management was introduced in the Company to ensure a systematic
approach to the protection of the environment. Throughout 2010, the Company
underwent several organizational and operational changes, but protection of the
environment nonetheless remains a priority.
In the autumn of 2010, the international organization Det Norske Veritas carried out
an audit that evaluated the Environmental Management System (EMS) and its compliance
with Czech standard ISO 14001. The result of the audit confirmed that Czech
Airlines fully acts within the legislative rules and praised the proactive approach the
Company has towards care for the environment.
Air Protection
In 2010, the legislative process of incorporating aviation into the current system
of emissions trading was completed. As of January 2012, the system will cover all
flights landing at or taking off from airports in the European Union. Like other carriers,
Czech Airlines has to secure a corresponding number of allowances for each
such flight, in order to offset the CO 2
emissions produced by that flight.
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater discharged during various technological processes is treated in the
central industrial sewage treatment plant, which was put into operation in 2010. By
using special pre-cleaning technologies, after which the wastewater is subsequently
subjected to secondary treatment in the wastewater treatment plan at Prague
Airport, another important qualitative advancement was achieved in all respects,
including major financial savings and reduced production of hazardous waste.
Czech Airlines continues to pay extraordinary attention to treating wastewater from
the galvanization line. This wastewater undergoes several stages of treatment in the
neutralization station. The quality of water discharged into the sewage system of
Prague Airport is also regularly monitored in order to meet the strict limits set by the
integrated permit.
Waste
Throughout the Group, waste disposal complies with stringent legislative regulations.
Czech Airlines endeavours to reduce the amount of waste generated,
particularly hazardous waste that is produced either by its own activities or those of
external contractual partners.
In 2010, the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic approved plans for
the collection of data about tonnes per kilometre and CO 2
emissions from flights
operated by Czech Airlines, which are included in the system of emissions trading
and which were collected throughout 2010. Based on this data and data collected by
other air transport operators, the Ministry of the Environment will request the allocation
of emission allowances to the Czech Republic for the next trading season.
Noise
In recent years, air traffic has been among the fastest-growing modes of transport.
With increased demand and greater density of air traffic, the noise pollution from
aircraft grows as well. At Prague Airport, rigorous noise monitoring and close cooperation
with airline operators is standard practice. Czech Airlines continued its cooperation
with Airport Prague throughout 2010 in order to further develop projects and
measures to reduce noise levels at Prague Airport and its surroundings.