How do airports align with sustainability? An analysis of the world's 150 busiest airports

Abstract

This study represents the first in-depth analysis of the global airport industry's compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), assessing the SDG alignment of the world's 150 busiest airports across 48 countries, which collectively account for approximately 60% of global air traffic in 2019. We discovered a 42% overall alignment with the SDGs, illustrating the aviation sector's relatively slow incorporation of green technologies and sustainable practices, especially when contrasted with industries such as Oil and Gas (O&G), and banking. Notably, a subset of 23% of airports demonstrates high alignment, characterized by implementing targeted SDG actions and establishing comprehensive monitoring and evaluation frameworks, indicating a significant, albeit challenging, shift toward sustainability. Our analysis also pinpoints that airports in Europe and those handling larger passenger volumes exhibit more substantial alignment, attributing this to the influence of Europe's stringent sustainability regulations and the prioritization of passenger-focused operations on enhancing SDG commitments. Conversely, an airport's alignment with the SDGs is not significantly predicted by its host country's national SDG scores, suggesting that regional sustainability pressures exert a more direct influence on airport practices than national achievements. These findings lead to recommendations for standardizing SDG reporting and developing specific metrics for tracking progress at airports, alongside advocating for governmental and international entities to establish regulatory frameworks, financial incentives, and certification programs to enhance global aviation sustainability.