Factors Influencing Environmentally Friendly Air Travel: A Systematic, Mixed-Method Review

Abstract

Assessing the environmental impact of air travel is a complex endeavour with various solution scenarios and stakeholders, including the passengers. This article focuses on identifying factors influencing air passengers' environmental awareness and resulting behaviour change towards more environmentally friendly air travel behaviour. A conceptual factor model is developed based on a systematic literature review of prevailing research (N = 111) and semi-structured interviews with experts (N = 14) from the aviation industry and beyond in Europe. The model distinguishes between demographic factors, internal factors, such as knowledge and values, and external factors, such as media usage and government policies. Three main parties emerge as forces that drive passengers towards increasing awareness and behaviour change: government, airlines, and social movement groups. The media is found to be a mediator. Focusing on the gap between attitude and behaviour, we summarize the factors that contribute to it and propose strategies to mitigate it.