The Eurovision Song Contest takes off in Vienna with Austrian Airlines

• Austrian Airbus A320 with special Building Bridges branding
• The Eurovision Song Contest as a first-time “green event”

The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) as the host broadcaster and Austrian Airlines as the official carrier presented an Airbus A320 of the Austrian Airlines fleet with special lettering before the start of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. The special foil sticker with a material strength of only 0.05 millimeters consists of 24 individual parts with a total size of 13.53 x 3.9 meters, thus encompassing an area of 52 m². The Airbus A320 with the registration number OE-LBS was branded by Austrian Technik in Vienna. The foil withstands temperature fluctuations between +80°C and -60°C as well as straining of the fuselage which can arise due to pressure differences on the ground or in the air.

“The Airbus A320 with the Building Bridges branding is our flying ambassador for the Eurovision Song Contest. Besides the world famous tradition of classical music, Vienna offers its guests also modern lifestyle-events right in the heart of Europe. As Austria’s leading carrier and official airline of the Song Contest we want to carry this message into the world and look forward to bringing fans from all over Europe with the branded Airbus to this unique entertainment show in Vienna”, says Andreas Otto, Chief Commercial Officer of Austrian Airlines.

ORF Director General Alexander Wrabetz adds: “Hosting a mega-event such as the Eurovision Song Contest would not be possible without the support of strong partners. I am particularly pleased that Austrian Airlines has joined forces with us as the official carrier of the Song Contest. The Eurovision Song Contest is already on track and being advertised on tramways in Vienna and the two Taurus locomotives in Austria. With its aircraft featuring the ‘Building Bridges’ branding, Austrian Airlines is also sending out an impressive signal throughout Europe.”

The Eurovision Song Contest as a “green event“: efficient and environmentally compatible – from the journey to catering

For the first time in its 60-year history, the Eurovision Song Contest, the biggest TV entertainment event in the world, will be organized as a green event in accordance with the Austrian Ecolabel guidelines. The European Song Contest 2015 is an event which will prudently use resources, favour regional and sustainable products and embody barrier-free access and inclusion.

Together with Climate Austria, Austrian Airlines offers passengers flying to Vienna the opportunity to compensate for the CO? emissions arising from the flight by making a voluntary donation. The amount depends on the actual, average jet fuel consumption per passenger on the respective route and is directly donated to climate protection projects.

More information on the Eurovision Song Contest can be found at: http://songcontest.orf.at/