Airports and environmental sustainability: A review

¹ School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, 263 35, Patras, Greece
² School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO Box 452, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
³ School of Applied Arts and Sustainable Design, Hellenic Open University, 263 35, Patras, Greece

^* Corresponding author: dnalba@civil.auth.gr

Abstract

This paper examines the energy and environmental context of the design and operation of airports and air transport in general in the direction of achieving sustainability and cooperation with modern sustainable trends. At the same time, the importance of this design is highlighted, and all the latest developments on individual issues (e.g., impact management, policies, benchmarking, modeling) are recorded. In parallel, apart from the theoretical approach, an analysis of the main environmental and energy achievements of different airports in Greece and abroad is made, which highlights, among others, the dynamics and the priority of these issues in the field of aviation. The need for a more extensive study of this sector is dictated by the reduction of energy reserves, increased energy costs, climate change, new energy regulations, and fines, increased passenger numbers, increased flights and airports, and the need for new airports. Therefore, knowing the benefits and impacts of a transition from simple economic growth to sustainable growth in the economy and the environment is essential. The circle is about society, the economy, and the environment and is repeated.