Sustainability for Aviation: Analysis of Heathrow Airport Operations

This report examines the significance of sustainability within the aviation industry, focusing on Heathrow Airport in the UK. It begins with an introduction to the concept of sustainability and its importance for the aviation sector, emphasizing the need for social progress and economic growth. A literature review covers relevant legislation such as the Civil Aviation Act, 2012, and the roles of regulatory bodies like the CAA and Airport Commission. The report then provides a critical overview, highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on the industry and the importance of health and safety measures. It discusses social, economic, and environmental factors influencing sustainability, followed by a discussion of smart trends such as self-service, automation, AI, smart transportation, onboard connectivity, and robotic assistance. The report acknowledges limitations in the research, such as time constraints and the impact of the pandemic, and concludes that sustainability is crucial for the industry's survival and growth, emphasizing the need for customer-centric approaches and economic development.

How important is
Sustainability for Aviation
Industry

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................................................................3
CRITICAL OVERVIEW ...............................................................................................................4
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .....................................................................................................5
LIMITATIONS................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Sustainability is defined as the aspect under high focus is drawn over maintaining needs
without any compromise in ability within future generations. For aviation industry sustainability
is the most primal aspect which is required so that to provide social progress and economic
growth as well. Sustainability is associated with environmental quality in order to use natural
resources in optimal manner (Karaman, Kilic and Uyar, 2018). This reports is prepared for the
major purpose to understand concept of sustainability for aviation industry. The sub-sector taken
for this report is Heathrow Airport which is located in London, UK. This report is covering key
steps and future trends in respect of aviation industry. Besides this the main objective of
conducting this report is to analyse importance of sustainability for aviation industry.
LITERATURE REVIEW
According to Harwood, 2020, there are various policies within aviation industry that are
required to be undertaken by industry so that to provide protection to their customers and society
as well. These laws are elaborated as under:
The civil aviation Act, 2012 is the primal for aviation industry to undertake so that to govern air
flights working within UK. The major purpose of this Act is to modernise prominent elements of
civil aviation so that the sector can provide fuller contribution to economic growth. There are
various guidelines that are given within this Act and they are requisite to be fulfilled by
Heathrow Airport as well in order to maintain their functions effectively. The major aim of this
Act is to deliver appropriate standards and prominent outcomes to the passengers and guides
airport owners to adhere with airport operational services. Prices of Heathrow Airport is being
managed by independent regulator.
According to Uyar, Karaman and Kilic, 2019, This Act is providing higher contribution
in economic and environmental growth. This Act is helpful in modernising economic
frameworks required to regulate economic conditions as higher standards are maintained in lieu
of this Act. Besides this aviation industry is drawing negative impacts to the environment and in
the context of Airport various environmental issues are faced. In this aspect Civil aviation Act is
moving ahead to use sustainable practices within airport so that to minimise negative impacts
over environment. In this manner Heathrow has established solar panels in building terminals so
that to so that to save energy and cost for future time.

Besides this CAA is associated with obligations that are required to be undertaken related
to passengers safety under this Heathrow Airport is taking effective measures so that to provide
ultimate security to their customer along with managing threat that can cause threat to passengers
as well.
In order to manage business in aviation industry, airline companies are required to follow
various rules that are guided by government. For instance, government of UK is expecting
nominal noise pollution from aircraft so in order to adhere to these guidelines business operated
within aviation industry is required to manage their aircraft accordingly. In order to bring
sustainable development government is taking effective movement so that to provide greater
transparency within operating functions.
Airport commission is the body who is regulating airports and overlook to their
maintenance as well. In the context of UK, aviation industry is contributing their huge amount in
economic development this is the major reason that aviation industry is growing in tremendous
manner. Heathrow airport is associated with passenger services, cargo services in which the
airport is covering huge population. Heathrow is managing near about 1200 flights on daily basis
which makes their operations highly busy.
(Passenger traffic at London Heathrow Airport between 2002 and 2019)
CRITICAL OVERVIEW
In current time Due To COVID-19 huge disruption is seen in which operational efficacy
is decreased. In this manner Heathrow Airport has shut down their terminals in order to manage
security and safety concerns of passengers in lieu of current pandemic. In COVID-19 pandemic

this is imperative that higher emphasis is required to be drawn over hygiene and safety concerns
so that to minimise issue of virus to their passengers. Due to COVID-19, overall traffic has
decreased by 38% and this is impacting aviation industry in negative manner. In order to
overcome from situation of COVID aviation industry is facing various challenges and for get
proper recovery three dimensions are required to be upkeep so that to give maximum benefits to
their passengers. In the current shut down, enormous impact over health and livelihood has been
seen and this is the reason that economy is facing downfall. In this manner Heathrow airport is
using sustainable practices such as appropriate checking of temperature at arrival and departure
so that to minimise risk for their passengers (Payán‐Sánchez and et. al., 2018).
This has been seen that COVID has change business practices of all the industry in which
major industries are facing negative inclination over profit and demands as well. Sustainability
for aviation industry is one of the significant factor that can be used by them in order to render
higher level of satisfaction to their visitors and to attain higher footfall as well. In the context of
key steps Heathrow has initiated their airport in such a way that all the safety measures are
undertaken in prominent manner. The airport authority has stopped entry for those people who
are not wearing mask and at the same time proper sanitisation has started at many times a day.
This has made airport authority to sustain for longer time as market is in the need of inhaling
these steps within functions. Besides this recycling practices are being used by Heathrow that
involves recycling of wastages so that to minimise overall cost (Bauen and Nattrass, 2018).
Social factors
Social factors are associated with demand patterns and social dimensions. In this manner
these factors are playing higher role within attaining sustainability in aviation industry as in
context of Heathrow Airport people are happy with atmosphere of the airport due to which it
leads in higher guest repetition. This is the major reason that social factors are contributing in
sustainability of aviation industry social factors and aviation industry both are driven by
customers.
Economic factors
Economic factors are defined as the aspects which are related with per capita income,
natural resources, population and many more. The major consumption of fuel is associated with
aviation industry which is directly linked with sustainability of the industry. As when prices of

fuel are low this may impact profitability due to which sustainability of aviation industry can be
managed.
Environmental factors
These factors are related with using ozone-friendly practices within business so that to
minimise harm which is given to environment. In this manner Heathrow Airport is utilising
various systems such as they have established solar panels within premises due to which
sustainability of the industry can be managed.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In current time smart trends are inhaled by every industry as this would lead in attaining
overall efficiency and productivity as well. For airport like Heathrow high edge quality is the
major aspect which is demanded by the passengers and society as well. In this concern Heathrow
is an airport at which passenger footfall is very high and in order to manage overall sustainability
the management of the airport is using new trends so that to avoid jamming within airport
premises and to make guest check in and checkout easier. There are some emerging trends which
can be used by Heathrow that are elaborated as under:
Self service and automation
In the light of COVID-19, the major issues are arising in respect of hygiene and safety so
in order to deal with the same self service and automation is a technology which is used by
airport in order to avoid touch points. Besides this automation may increase overall efficacy of
the airport in such a way that customer clearings can be less time taking which would help in
attaining overall productivity as well. This will help in minimising airport queue in which
demands of passengers can be met in sufficient manner. Smart gates are the best option to adopt
this technology in which with the help of passenger ID entry and exit activities can be performed
(Seyfi, Hall and Vo-Thanh, 2020).
Artificial intelligence
AI is associated with big data collection and analysing the same via using predictive
software. This technology is helpful for Heathrow in order to avoid any bottleneck and traffic
jamming within airport premises. This technology can be used to clear cargo planes by which
allocation and fulfilment of optimised delivery can be performed. This will help the system of
warehousing and cargo management easier due to which real time actions can be taken for
improving airport functions (Kotze, 2017).

Smart ground transportation
In order to finish journey one of the prominent issue is faced by customer is to get ground
transportation when they land from aircraft. With the help of smart transportation solution
traveller of airport may get high access on demand bookings which could be helpful in order to
make their journey remarkable. With the help of smart ground transportation solution travellers
can get their easy access to travelling kilometres in seamless manner.
Onboard connectivity
In this system on a specific platform a WI-FI connectivity is developed and with the help
of this passengers can look after their needs in effective manner. As there are some airlines
which are promoting food and beverages with the help of connectivity. Besides this technology
is helpful to make partnership with Netflix and Amazon in order to render connectivity with
people. In this way Heathrow can establish higher assistance to their visitors in such a way that
they do not feel any complexities and resultantly this will help the organisation and overall
industry to stay sustained (Sameh and Scavuzzi, 2016).
Robotic assistance
Robotic assistance is defined as new initiatives due to which robotic helps are provided to
passengers in direct manner. In this manner passengers can look after to their desired information
in effective manner. For Heathrow this technology can be used by them in order to guide their
passenger in effective manner along with giving them seamless experience.
LIMITATIONS
There are various kind of limitations which are faced by a researcher during the research
in which dodges are faced within research. Such limitations are lack of time, lack of resources,
inappropriate literature review etc. These limitations created barrier in the path of researcher in
order to complete the research in effective manner. Besides this the research topic is get
impacted from different aspects such as COVID-19. In the light of COVID-19, the major impact
has been seen on aviation industry and their sustainability as well. In the period of shut down
operations of airport were remained closed due to which sustainability of this industry is facing
downfall. Besides this at the time of reopening of airport after lock down the major problem for
airport is to manage function in effective way along with managing appropriate hygienic. On the
other hand airports like Heathrow is required to manage proper hygiene and security so that to
deal with visitors in prominent manner (Warith, 2019. Along with this besides this check in and

check out process within airport are required to be prompt and speedy as in this context
Heathrow can apply some of the future trends within their operations in order to acquire
satisfaction of their visitors in prominent manner.
CONCLUSION
From the above report this can be concluded sustainability is the essential factor for any
industry to enhance their level of survival. In this manner this is imperative that various options
are being selected in order to provide appropriate options by which succession options can be
enhanced. Besides this aviation is the industry which is driven by customer and this is required
within the industry that customers are focused in such a way that direct positive implication can
be seen over sustainability and economic growth as well. For industry of aviation market
condition and COVID has impacted in prominent manner as the industry faced high economic
downfall. In the context of social and economic growth aviation industry is keeping high edge as
this industry is associated with overall conditions of economy and market growth as well. The
major objective of aviation is to give ultimate satisfaction to their visitors in terms of cargo and
passenger services. This is the major reason that aviation is controlled by government regulation
as this industry is providing high economic growth and sustainability to the nation in positive
manner.

REFERENCES
books and journals
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In Biokerosene (pp. 703-721). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
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worldwide evidence. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal.
Kotze, R., 2017. Sustainability Analysis of the Airline Industry–Low Cost Carriers and Full
Service Carriers. IIIEE Theses.
Payán‐Sánchez and et. al., 2018. Social embeddedness for sustainability in the aviation sector.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 25(4). pp.537-553.
Sameh, M.M. and Scavuzzi, J., 2016. Environmental sustainability measures for airports.
Occasional Paper Series: Sustai-nable International Civil Aviation.
Seyfi, S., Hall, C.M. and Vo-Thanh, T., 2020. Tourism, peace and sustainability in sanctions-
ridden destinations. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, pp.1-20.
Uyar, A., Karaman, A.S. and Kilic, M., 2019. Institutional drivers of sustainability reporting in
the global tourism industry. Tourism Economics, p.1354816619886250.
Warith, M.F.A., 2019. Assessment of Green IT/IS Within the Aviation Industry Using the
Analytic Network Process Approach. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism
Systems. 12(1).