Airlines fighting climate change: A comprehensive study on sustainable transformation strategies and initiatives in European airlines.
Pimiä, Anne (2023)
Pimiä, Anne
2023
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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023120534447
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023120534447
Tiivistelmä
The primary objective of this thesis is to analyse the various strategies and initiatives adopted by the airlines in Europe to enhance their sustainability practises and contribute to sustainable transformation of the airline organizations. This thesis aims to comprehensively study initiatives, challenges and opportunities in sustainable transformation of European airlines, with emphasis on CO2 emissions reduction, organizational development, and competitive advantage.
Flying is one of the major individual contributors to climate change with estimated 3.5% of total emissions produced by aviation. Airlines are committed to carbon neutrality by year 2050 but there is nearly 30 years of airline operations that will require sustainable transformation before that. Therefore, the airline industry could benefit from sustainability research and its findings in becoming more sustainable and attracting new environmentally aware customers while convincing investors of the more sustainable future of the aviation industry.
This thesis sheds light on the airline industry in Europe and its ways to fight climate change. Climate change and emissions produced by the airline industry are the drivers for sustainable transformation needs that are re-enforced by various rules, regulations and societal trends creating external pressure on European airlines. Sustainable transformation efforts are reviewed from CO2 emissions reduction, organizational development and competitive advantage perspectives utilising theories from climate change, Fiedler´s contingency and Porter´s competitive advantage theory. Key findings are reflected in the theoretical framework and applied to the research results produced with mixed method research including qualitative airline expert interviews and thematic content analysis of sustainability reports.
The outcomes of this research include forming a holistic picture of airline sustainability in Europe, revealing innovative initiatives, insights and best practises. Practical recommendations are made and tools to support sustainable transformation process are introduced. The author believes that this research can empower European airlines to enhance their sustainability and contribute to greener flying already today.
As emphasized throughout this study, the sustainability investments made today by European airlines are fundamental in securing long-term business viability, attracting the future customers and environmentally conscious investors, while guiding the pathway to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Flying is one of the major individual contributors to climate change with estimated 3.5% of total emissions produced by aviation. Airlines are committed to carbon neutrality by year 2050 but there is nearly 30 years of airline operations that will require sustainable transformation before that. Therefore, the airline industry could benefit from sustainability research and its findings in becoming more sustainable and attracting new environmentally aware customers while convincing investors of the more sustainable future of the aviation industry.
This thesis sheds light on the airline industry in Europe and its ways to fight climate change. Climate change and emissions produced by the airline industry are the drivers for sustainable transformation needs that are re-enforced by various rules, regulations and societal trends creating external pressure on European airlines. Sustainable transformation efforts are reviewed from CO2 emissions reduction, organizational development and competitive advantage perspectives utilising theories from climate change, Fiedler´s contingency and Porter´s competitive advantage theory. Key findings are reflected in the theoretical framework and applied to the research results produced with mixed method research including qualitative airline expert interviews and thematic content analysis of sustainability reports.
The outcomes of this research include forming a holistic picture of airline sustainability in Europe, revealing innovative initiatives, insights and best practises. Practical recommendations are made and tools to support sustainable transformation process are introduced. The author believes that this research can empower European airlines to enhance their sustainability and contribute to greener flying already today.
As emphasized throughout this study, the sustainability investments made today by European airlines are fundamental in securing long-term business viability, attracting the future customers and environmentally conscious investors, while guiding the pathway to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.