Opportunities and Barriers of Green Innovation in Civil Aviation

Air pollution from the civil aviation industry is the fastest-growing source of the greenhouse gas emissions driving global climate change. This problem will only worsen as demand for air travel rises. Green innovations may help to mitigate the climate change impacts of aviation. This study examines opportunities and barriers of green innovation implementation for airlines with three business models: full service, low cost and charter. For this aim, a two-stage methodology was carried. Conducted desk research showed the different extent of green innovation implementation by airlines with three business models: the widest scope of its implementation was identified for airline with full service business model and the lowest scope for airlines with charter business model. Results of the desk research made it reasonable to get direct feedback from experts from airlines regarding the particular barriers they face and opportunities they see in green innovations implementation. The results of the study showed that there are several opportunities and barriers that depend on airlines business model and formulated in this research measures could be taken to increase green innovation implementation by airlines and decrease the number of barriers.