- The research reveals that airlines and airports become eco-friendly and more efficient through coordinated agreements
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, University of Liverpool and Jindal Global Business School have unveiled strategies for sustainable and eco-friendly growth in the aviation sector. The team was led by IIM Lucknow.
The study reveals how airlines and airports can collectively achieve sustainable growth in the aviation sector through various collaborative agreements. The government can also step in, acting as an overall leader — enabling a further greening of this sector by imposing taxes.
“Airlines in India, have been working on improving fuel efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This involves adopting more fuel-efficient aircraft, optimizing flight routes, and implementing operational practices that minimize fuel consumption, reducing taxi times, and implementing procedures to minimise unnecessary fuel burn during delays in landing permissions,” Dr Suresh K Jakhar, Associate Professor, IIM Lucknow, said.
The report emphasises the critical role of collaboration between airlines and airports in improving sustainability, as the urgency to decarbonise aviation grows. The team acquired data from publicly available secondary sources, such as airline and airport schedules, as well as financial and other papers available on airline websites.
According to the findings, coordinated agreements help airlines and airports become more environmentally friendly and efficient. The study also demonstrates that sharing income allows airports and airlines to work together more smoothly. While government levies can be beneficial to the environment, coordinated agreements between airports and airlines have a greater and more positive impact.
The study emphasises the importance of reciprocity, fairness and passengers’ environmental consciousness in airport and airline coordination. It lays out a precise plan for reaching triple-bottom-line growth. This framework involves investments in environmentally beneficial practises by airlines, corporate social responsibility activities by airports and government measures.