Factors determining the implementation of green practices in airport management. The case study of Polish airports

Abstract

The main objective of this article was to assess the significance of factors that determine pro-environmental orientation in airport management. A survey conducted among Polish airports showed that the assessment of the factor's significance depended not only on air traffic volume but also on the degree of airports' commitment to green practices. For airports with a high level of commitment, the most important barrier was the cost. In the case of airports with a medium level of commitment, the most significant barriers were unawareness of the potential benefits, and a low priority assigned to green practices in the airport's strategic goals. For airports with a low degree of commitment, in addition to the costs, the most important barrier was the conviction that their impact on the environment was low. The most important stimulants were the same for airports with medium and high levels of pro-environmental commitment: good financial condition, pro-environmental orientation of airport authorities, and political pressure. For the airports with a low degree of commitment, growth rates of passenger traffic were the most important stimulant. All the analyzed Polish airports saw benefits primarily in the possibility of identifying, monitoring, and reducing their negative impacts on the environment (meeting the legal and political requirements), and increasing the environmental awareness of the airport authorities and employees. In terms of managerial implications, our research has demonstrated that there is a strong need to provide expert assistance to airport authorities in the field of environmental management. The objectives of European Union policy are among the most ambitious and rigorous in the world. European airports committed to net zero carbon emissions under their control by 2050 or even earlier, and a few of them have already achieved Net Zero. Nevertheless, Polish airports undertake pro-environmental measures to a very limited extent, despite the dynamic high growth of passenger traffic, and despite being subjected to the pressure of the same European policy. In this context, support from the EU policy and domestic policy is of key importance.