No abstract

The Middle East aviation industry comprises 4.5 percent of the global aviation market, thanks to its strategic location between all the continents of the world and its position as a hub connecting the European and Asia-Pacific markets. The UAE is the biggest aviation market in the Middle East, with a 45 percent share of the region’s aviation sector. This study evaluates the effectiveness of sustainable aviation in the Middle East by analysing the sustainability measures and strategies of two of the UAE’s biggest carriers: Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways. Thematic analysis of the sustainability reports of the two carriers identified the environmental impacts of their operations and their measures and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with ICAO and IATA policies and targets within the 3 pillars of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental. Emirates Airline’s reports revealed a clearly focused and ambitious drive to reduce environmental impacts using globally accepted honest and transparent accounting and reporting practices, whereas Etihad Airways’ report lacked details and did not signify a positive corporate social responsibility policy. Emirates Airline, unlike Etihad, reported on the emissions of NOx, CO, and UHCs below 3,000 feet, using ICAO’s landing/take-off (LTO) cycle. Also, Emirates Airline completed its first Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) emissions report for 2019 and was finalising the audited report for 2020, while Etihad Airways will be obliged to purchase carbon credits to offset post-2020 absolute emissions, if it fails to meet targets for the voluntary pilot phase beginning in 2021. Finally, Etihad introduced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from various sources into its energy mix, and Emirates reported aircraft fuel consumption, fuel efficiency and CO2 efficiency due to increased use of SAF. The study concludes that, despite the strategies and measures reported, the chances that both airlines would achieve 2050 net zero emissions target remain slim.

Anthropogenic climate change contributes to increased frequency and intensity of droughts, wildfires, storms, coastal sea level rise, and population displacements, in addition to causing lung and cardiovascular diseases from the emission of Criteria Air Pollutants (CAPs). The aviation sector is estimated to contribute 2%–3% of global anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. This excludes GHG emissions from airport operation and maintenance activities due to limited research in the area. This systematic literature review examined the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) carried out by previous studies on the environmental impacts of airport operation and maintenance activities. This allows to assess existing literature on the impacts of these activities; identify knowledge gaps in LCA based on the findings of the review; and propose areas for further research and improvement in mitigating the environmental impacts of airport operation and maintenance activities. A total of 11 papers were selected for thematic analysis and narrative synthesis following a systematic review process based on the research question which yielded a total of 263 peer‐reviewed research articles and dissertations on the topic. The findings of the review showed that knowledge gaps exist in the LCA of environmental impacts of Auxiliary Power Units (APU) and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) operations in the airport during aircraft turnaround time. Further research is suggested in the use of feasible and affordable alternative energy sources (electricity, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and hydrogen) at airports to reduce the environmental impacts associated with petrol‐ and diesel‐powered GSE and gate operations at airports.