Sustainability Partners in the Faroe Islands: Atlantic Airways

Atlantic Airways is the Faroe Islands’ national airline. Ever since the Faroese airline was founded in 1987, it has developed air traffic to and from the Faroe Islands with increased frequency and 10 direct routes from the Faroe Islands to Copenhagen, Billund, Aalborg, Reykjavik, Edinburgh, Oslo, Paris, Mallorca and Gran Canaria. In addition, Atlantic Airways has provided domestic helicopter services in the Faroe Islands since 1994 and Search and Rescue (SAR/HEMS) since 2001. At the year-end 2020 Atlantic Airways had 146 full-time equivalent employees, and operated 4 aircraft and 2 helicopters.

As partner in the MICE network of the Faroe Islands Atlantic Airways is a keen supporter of a sustainable development in the Faroe Islands. The islands are unspoiled and unordinary, however, they are located remotely in the middle of the North Atlantic ocean, and it’s impossible to get there without leaving a carbon footprint.

Atlantic Airways emphasize the importance of sustainability and aims to fly as sustainable as possible – sustainability is an integral part of all departments in Atlantic Airways.

New fleet:

For airlines, the main environmental footprint derives from aircraft jetfuel. Atlantic Airways aims to minimize the use of fuel, where possible. In the last twelve years, the CO2-emission per seat on the Atlantic Airways’ route network has dropped by 47% due to fleet renewal with larger and more environmentally friendly aircraft. From the summer 2021, Atlantic Airways operates three Airbus A320 aircraft and two AW139 helicopters. Two of the three Airbus aircraft are of the type A320neo, which are the most energy-saving of its kind with at least 15% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared with the previous Airbus 320 aircraft. The first A320neo entered the fleet in 2019 and the second in 2020.

RNP AR 0.1

All the aircraft are equipped with the state-of-the-art Airbus navigational system RNP AR 0.1, which has improved regularity on the routes to and from the Faroe Islands the last years as the weather conditions in the Foroe Islands can be unpredictable. The system ensures highest possible safety and fuel savings.

Maintenance:

In line with the company’s fuel-saving efforts, aircraft are washed more often than before and procedures are in place for the disposal of toxic materials. Waste is sorted between burning materials, non-burning materials, paper, fuel, lubricants and organic waste which are recycled where possible or disposed in a controlled manner in order to minimize harm to the environment.

Service on-board:

All disposable cutlery and cups on board the aircraft have been changed into sustainable solutions and the company offers pre-order of meals aiming to avoid food waste. In addition, the inflight entertainment system Airfi are provided digitally to minimize paper on board.

Atlantic Airways continues to aim for more sustainable solutions in all areas to reduce the impact on the environment.

Further information in the Atlantic Airways Annual Report 2020 and the Corporate Social Responsiblity Report 2020, which can be found at the website www.atlantic.fo

More about sustainable destination programs, event opportunities, innovation, business ecosystems and an ambitioned community – Follow the LinkedIn showcase of Visit Faroe Islands Meetings and on www.tmf-dialogue.net