Sustainability in the Airports Ecosystem: A Literature Review

Abstract

The global challenges of sustainability are transforming the economy of the 21st Century. Economic, social, and environmental sustainability impacts regulators and businesses, particularly in the aviation industry, and facilitates access to productive services and market linkages. Airport stakeholders are increasingly pressuring companies to consider their socioeconomic impacts and manage them sustainably and resiliently. Business is paramount to airport companies in this competitive and economically sensitive climate. Many studies have addressed the issue of airport sustainability from specific perspectives. These perspectives include economic sustainability, benefits related to economic and environmental sustainability, and the impact of operations on the airport environment. This report summarises the current state of airport environmental sustainability practices, including greenhouse gas emissions from airport pavements, energy management strategies for airport buildings and operations, water conservation, and waste management. We aim to provide a clear and integrative picture of these impacts on airport sustainability through a systematic literature review while advancing knowledge A systematic literature review was performed using the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology. This systematic literature review sought to consolidate knowledge on the subject. In order to illustrate the link between major categories and their corresponding trends, authors used VOSviewer scientific software. The compilation of existing knowledge on the three components of sustainability likely underscores the importance of overall airport sustainability. It is suggested that further studies be conducted.

Transforming waste management methods: a Dutch Airport’s journey toward a circular economy through baseline measurements and strategic priority setting

“…To manage waste effectively, airports should acknowledge and engage with the diverse stakeholders contributing to these streams (Kanchanabhan et al, 2011;Raimundo et al, 2023). Understanding stakeholder perspectives is crucial, considering their diverse backgrounds and attitudes towards consumption and disposal (Tjahjono et al, 2023).…”

“…The environmental impact assessment is performed in line with established LCA standards as defined in ISO 14040:2006 andISO 14044:2006. This selected impact assessment framework, supported by Raimundo et al (2023), is instrumental in providing robust and detailed guidance for decision-makers and policy outcomes. The focus is deliberately narrowed to targeting the End-of-Life stage, with a specific emphasis on resources processing and disposal.…”

The Analysis and AI Simulation of Passenger Flows in an Airport Terminal: A Decision-Making Tool

“…In addition, sustainability indicators, covering economic, environmental and social aspects, could be used to evaluate the performance of airport terminals, using data analysis and simulation models as well as qualitative and quantitative information [27]. Assessment tools such as LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) are increasingly being used to help decision makers select strategies, operations and policy mechanisms [28]. It is also worth mentioning that the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) of airports [29] is a business model that could be used to measure the environmental, economic, energy and social impacts of applied strategies and operational activities to achieve commitment from decision makers [30].…”