Environmental sustainability at airports

The aviation sector, which holds a significant place in the global economy and is noted for its fast growth, innovation, and dynamic structure, affects the future of the entire world and the quality of life through its decisions and policies. In this context, the issue of environmental sustainability at airports has been thoroughly examined from the perspectives of airlines with different business models, such as Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines. The research, covering the period between 2019 and 2022, conducts a comprehensive trend analysis based on crucial operational indicators such as carbon emissions, passenger numbers, available seat kilometers, and revenue passenger kilometers. The differences between Turkish Airlines' full-service provider business model and Pegasus Airlines' low-cost business model and their impacts on environmental effects have been thoroughly examined, and sectoral comparisons have been made. Additionally, the environmental sustainability performances of these airlines have been analyzed, and their efforts to reduce environmental impacts in the industry have been evaluated. Detailed analyses based on carbon emissions, passenger numbers, and other operational data reveal the effectiveness of the airlines' strategies to reduce environmental impacts. The research conducted between 2019 and 2022 observed that the carbon emission rates per passenger of Pegasus Airlines have increased each year. The study, based on the year 2019, determined that the year with the lowest carbon emissions was 2020. According to the data obtained, 2020 had the lowest number of passengers carried and the lowest total greenhouse gas emission rate compared to the base year. Accordingly, the year with the lowest carbon emission rate per passenger was identified as 2020. By 2022, compared to the base year, it was observed to be the year with the highest carbon emission rate per passenger and the highest total greenhouse gas emission rate, with the highest total number of passengers carried. When examining the operational data of Turkish Airlines between 2019 and 2022, an increase followed by a decrease in carbon emission rates was determined. Although the lowest number of passengers carried and carbon emissions were seen in 2020 compared to 2019, it was determined that the carbon emission rate per passenger increased again in 2022.