Stijn van der Erf

Abstract: With the aviation industry poised to grow by 3.5% annually over the next two decades, the imperative to address its environmental impact has never been more pressing. Airports stand at the forefront of this transition, serving as crucial strategic hubs facilitating air travel, yet heavily reliant on fossil fuels (FFs). Despite their potential to reduce emissions and phase out FFs, there is limited research on the internal and external conditions necessary for airports to achieve this transition. This research delves into identifying these conditions through a comprehensive case study of Schiphol, with the focus on the combination of technical, social political and financial external conditions that airports are dependent on and internal conditions that enable airports to reduce emissions. Drawing on the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) framework and the Environmental Friendly Behavior (EFB) framework, a mixed-methods approach is employed. This approach encompasses a literature review, content analysis of 13 policy documents starting from 1990 to 2024 and Schiphol’s strategic visions and reports (5), and 18 in-depth interviews. Findings reveal that while the transition is not immediately imperative due to a combination of external challenges (such as grid congestion and lack of binding international regulations) and inadequate internal actions, the research identifies both external (CO₂ ceiling proposal, reinforcement of the grid) and internal conditions (smart grid management, individual incentives) necessary to overcome these obstacles. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the complexity inherent in the aviation sector’s transition away from FF. It underscores that while the transition may not be feasible presently, opportunities exist for further exploration. By identifying key challenges and potential solutions, this study lays the groundwork for future research to delve deeper into implementation strategies.