Transition to sustainability in the European Union Aviation System - Revealing the Significance of the Place-Based Dimension of European Aviation Transition Policies

To enhance EU competitiveness and foster the transition to sustainability, the Draghi Report underscores the necessity of enhanced policy coordination across EU Member States and European institutions. This paper advocates a systemic approach that integrates subnational governance to expedite sustainability transitions, applying the concept of climate neutrality to the European aviation system. In 2023, Europe’s top 40 airports handled 10.2 million flights and 1.19 billion passengers, driving mobility, tourism, and economic growth. However, aviation is classified by the IPCC as a ‘hard-to-abate’ sector, contributing 2% of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022, with a total warming impact 2.6 times that of CO2 alone. With an expected annual passenger increase of 4.7%, emissions could triple in coming decades, threatening net-zero goals by 2050. Following a systematic literature review on sustainable aviation, policy initiatives at European, national, and regional levels are mapped and classified according to transition intervention points. Gaps and barriers are identified, and a place-based dimension of the sociotechnical transition is introduced using smart specialisation strategies. The paper argues that effective sustainability transition pathways require a deep understanding of problems and solutions from the perspective of those directly affected, suggesting a place-based approach to align territorial policies with European initiatives. The conclusions emphasize the need for systemic, transformative, and place-based policies to achieve aviation climate neutrality. Coordinating efforts across local, regional, national, and European levels is vital. The paper illustrates that considering place-based dimensions early in EU policies can enhance sustainability transitions for competitiveness.