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The title of QUIETEST AIRLINE 2014 at Václav Havel Airport Prague Goes to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was announced the winner of the competition which evaluates airline friendliness to the environment at Prague Airport. The prestigious prize, in the form of a glass swallow, was awarded to the airline during the final ceremony by Jiří Kraus, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prague Airport and René Pekárek, Deputy Prague 6 Mayor. It took place as part of regular meetings of airport representatives and nearby municipalities and city boroughs. The QUIETEST AIRLINE contest which Prague Airport announced eight years ago for the first time based upon an incentive by Prague 6, is one of the tools used to motivate air carriers to take a neighbourly approach to the immediate surroundings of the airport. The criteria evaluated include not only the measurement of noise but also maintaining air routes and aircraft capacity.

The contest took place during the most intensive air traffic period, i.e., from mid-June until mid-September among airlines that fly to Václav Havel Airport Prague most frequently. The ANOMS8 monitoring system, which continuously measures air traffic noise, was used to evaluate the contestants. It includes 13 fixed and 2 mobile measurement stations placed in selected locations in the surroundings of the airport so that the measurement has sufficient information value. Detailed rules of the contest along with all information on noise measurement at Václav Havel Airport Prague are available at the airport website, www.prg.aero, in the Environment section.

“Collaboration with the surrounding municipalities and city districts is of great importance to Prague Airport. I’m pleased when we successfully implement reasonable incentives such as this contest, whose success is testified to by the fact that it is now in its eighth year.  I’d like congratulate to the winner and express our thanks to all air carriers for whom their approach to the environment is of the same importance,” said Jiří Kraus, Chairman of the Board of Prague Airport.

“The competition aims at improving the quality of life and living conditions of citizens in Prague 6 and the environs of the Airport.I’m pleased that the air carriers whose aircraft land here are motivated to use new, quieter aircraft. Our objective is to point out those carriers who not only respect the hygienic limits but also try to be considerate towards citizens living in proximity to the airport. This is a contest which we would like to use to appreciate airlines for their effort to reduce aircraft noise and for modernization of their air fleet,” stated Marie Kousalíková, Mayor of Prague 6.

“KLM Royal Dutch Airlines considers the theme of sustainability and considerate behaviour beyond just being environmentally friendly to represent a key criterion for business and the company invests a lot of effort and funds in this area. For example, we have introduced the use of bio-fuel in some long-distance flights and also pay great attention to catering by working together with Fair Trade and Bio product suppliers. We’re very pleased we successfully attain maximum results in this respect and are very happy to be awarded the Quietest Airline prize,” said František Šiling, Country Manager Air France KLM for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.