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Expanding Horizons: A Review of Sustainability Evaluation Methodologies in the Airport Sector and Beyond

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  • Xibei Jia

    (Department of Transport and Regional Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
    CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Rosário Macário

    (Department of Transport and Regional Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
    CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Sven Buyle

    (Department of Transport and Regional Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium)

Abstract

Addressing a significant gap in the literature, this study commences with a dual focus: assessing sustainability evaluations, both within the airport sector and across a broader range of industries. Through a comprehensive review of 33 academic articles specific to airport sustainability, we delve into a detailed analysis of 16 papers that implement specific methodologies for assessing airport sustainability performance. These methodologies are compartmentalized into three primary categories: Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and its extensions, Hybrid Multiple-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM), and composite index-based assessments. A meta-review extending beyond the airport sector uncovers common issues across industries, including the absence of universally adaptable sustainability frameworks and an overemphasis on assessment, overshadowing the essential role of sustainability accounting. Our findings underscore the need for a paradigm shift from pure evaluation towards a holistic approach to sustainability modeling. With systems thinking at its core, this approach allows a better grasp of the complex interactions and feedback loops within sustainability systems and provides a strategy to tackle inherent trade-offs and compensatory effects. By exposing gaps in current practices, this study paves the way for future research, particularly the integration of systems thinking with MCDM, promising to enrich sustainability evaluation and management methodologies, ultimately facilitating more sustainable airport operations.

Suggested Citation

  • Xibei Jia & Rosário Macário & Sven Buyle, 2023. "Expanding Horizons: A Review of Sustainability Evaluation Methodologies in the Airport Sector and Beyond," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:11584-:d:1203543
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Glenn Baxter & Panarat Srisaeng & Graham Wild, 2019. "An Assessment of Airport Sustainability: Part 3—Water Management at Copenhagen Airport," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-24, July.
    2. Ahmed Eid & May Salah & Mahmoud Barakat & Matevz Obrecht, 2022. "Airport Sustainability Awareness: A Theoretical Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, September.
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    6. Wang, Zhanwei & Song, Woon-Kyung, 2020. "Sustainable airport development with performance evaluation forecasts: A case study of 12 Asian airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    7. Lu, Ming-Tsang & Hsu, Chao-Che & Liou, James J.H. & Lo, Huai-Wei, 2018. "A hybrid MCDM and sustainability-balanced scorecard model to establish sustainable performance evaluation for international airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 9-19.
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    9. Dimitrios Dimitriou & Aristi Karagkouni, 2022. "Assortment of Airports’ Sustainability Strategy: A Comprehensiveness Analysis Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-18, April.
    10. Enrico Mancinelli & Francesco Canestrari & Andrea Graziani & Umberto Rizza & Giorgio Passerini, 2021. "Sustainable Performances of Small to Medium-Sized Airports in the Adriatic Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-20, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jia, Xibei & Buyle, Sven & Macário, Rosário, 2023. "Developing an airport sustainability evaluation index through composite indicator approach," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    2. Diogo Ferreira & Maria Emilia Baltazar & Luis Santos, 2024. "Developing a Comprehensive Framework for Assessing Airports’ Environmental Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-19, August.

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