Sustainability in Aviation

The environmental situation is getting worse every year. Tourism, as one of the largest industries, is a part of the problem. Aviation is perceived as one of the biggest polluters, especially contributing to air and noise pollution. This research investigates whether the airlines have developed sustainability strategies and plans for the future in regards to environment and sustainability. Specifically, it investigates four chosen airlines and analyses their strategies. The theoretical sections offer a better understanding of tourism as a concept and connected means of transportation the tourists can use to show there are alternatives to flying and their possible pros and cons. There are also described negative impacts aviation has on the environment. After the introduction to the problematic of tourism, sustainability is described. Following is sustainable development in general and in tourism. There are sustainable strategies talked in-depth, including the stages of sustainable strategies the business can have and key principles these strategies should be developed upon. Also, two sustainable projects from international aviation organisations are introduced and described. The qualitative method of obtaining data was chosen over quantitative for the needed results and the importance of insight into the airlines’ sustainable strategies. This would not have been possible with the quantitative method; the results would be different or would not help to answer the research question. The data from airlines’ websites and reports were collected, described and analysed using the thematic analysis while comparing the data to the sustainable stages and key principles. The airlines themselves were also described in short with their history and important milestones.