Research Article
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Analysis of Sustainability Practices of Airline Companies from a Strategic Logistics Perspective

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 28, 754 - 775
https://doi.org/10.25204/iktisad.1664825

Abstract

Sustainability practices have become important practices that businesses have focused on recently. The increasing importance of air cargo transportation in global supply chains brings sustainability practices to the forefront in this sector. This study aims to analyze the sustainability practices of airline companies from a strategic logistics management perspective. The sustainability reports of the seven airline companies with the highest air cargo volume on a global scale were examined using the content analysis method. As a result of the analysis, main themes such as carbon emission reduction, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use, fleet modernization, digitalization, waste management, facility infrastructure development, personnel rights and social contribution came to the fore. The findings reveal that these practices are not limited to environmental responsibility only; they are also structured in an integrated manner with the long-term strategic logistics planning, operational efficiency targets, resource management and digital transformation strategies of the businesses. The conceptual framework and coding system developed within the scope of the study offers an original model for the strategic evaluation of sustainability-focused logistics analyses. In this respect, the research not only contributes to the literature but also offers a strategic roadmap for logistics decision-makers.

References

  • Aircargo News. (2024, 2 Eylül). Havayolu şirketlerinin CTK sıralaması. https://www.aircargonews.net/top-25-cargo-carriers-cargo-goes-slow-on-growth-in-2023/1073135.article
  • Al Sarrah, M., Ajmal, M. M. ve Mertzanis, C. (2021). Identification of sustainability indicators in the civil aviation sector in Dubai: A stakeholders’ perspective. Social Responsibility Journal, 17(5), 648-668. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-06-2019-0203
  • Alameeri, A., Ajmal, M. M., Hussain, M. ve Helo, P. T. (2017). Sustainability practices in the aviation sector: A study of UAE-based airlines. International Journal of Sustainable Society, 9(2), 119-147. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSSOC.2017.086818
  • Atlas Air. (2023). Sustainability Report. https://tinyurl.com/5n95b3jx Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics and supply chain management: logistics & supply chain management. Pearson.
  • Dubey, R., Gunasekaran, A., Childe, S. J., Papadopoulos, T. ve Helo, P. (2017). Supplier relationship management for circular economy: Influence of external pressures and top management commitment. Management Decision, 55(2), 236-258. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-04-2018-0396
  • Duran, B. (2018). Sürdürülebilirlik kavramının önemi, karşılaşılan sorunlar ve şirketlerin sürdürülebilirlik raporlarının incelenmesi (Yayımlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi). Başkent Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü. Ankara.
  • Ekici, F. (2023). Sustainability in aviation and current practices. Altıntaş, H., Mete, M. ve Bozaslan, B., N. (Ed.), International research and reviews in social, human and administrative science içinde (s. 209-224). Serüven Yayınevi.
  • Emirates. (2023). Annual Report. https://c.ekstatic.net/ecl/documents/annual-report/2023-2024.pdf Federal Express. (2024). 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. https://tinyurl.com/3pn57xx5
  • Grant, D. B., Wong, C. Y. ve Trautrims, A. (2017). Sustainable logistics and supply chain management: Principles and practices for sustainable operations and management. Kogan Page Publishers.
  • Guimarans, D., Arias, P., Tomasella, M. ve Wu, C. L. (2019). A review of sustainability in aviation: A multidimensional perspective. J. Faulin, S. E. Grasman, A. A. Juan, ve P. Hirsch (Ed.), Sustainable Transportation and Smart Logistics içinde (s. 91-121). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814242-4.00004-1
  • Heyes, G., Urquhart, C., Hooper, P. ve Thomas, C. (2023). Comprehensive Strategic Analysis for Sustainability: An Aviation Industry Case Study. Sustainability, 15(11), 8806. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118806
  • International Air Transport Association. (2020). International Air Transport Association Annual Review 2020. https://www.iata.org/contentassets/c81222d96c9a4e0bb4ff6ced0126f0bb/iata-annual-review-2020.pdf
  • International Air Transport Association. (2024). Cargo, https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/
  • International Air Transport Association. (2025a). Understanding Air Traffic Metrics. https://www.iata.org/en/publications/newsletters/iata-knowledge-hub/understanding-air-traffic-metrics/
  • International Air Transport Association. (2025b). Our Commitment to Fly Net Zero by 2050. https://www.iata.org/en/programs/sustainability/flynetzero/
  • Karaman, A. S., Kilic, M. ve Uyar, A. (2018). Sustainability reporting in the aviation industry: worldwide evidence. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 9(4), 362-391. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-12-2017-0150
  • Kılıç, M., Uyar, A. ve Karaman, A. S. (2019). What impacts sustainability reporting in the global aviation industry? An institutional perspective. Transport Policy, 79, 54-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2019.04.017
  • Korean Air. (2023). ESG Report. https://www.koreanair.com/contents/footer/about-us/sustainable-management/report?hl=en
  • Krippendorff, K. (2012). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Sage Pablications.
  • Lune, H. ve Berg, B. L. (2017). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. Pearson.
  • Mentzer, J. T., Min, S. ve Michelle Bobbitt, L. (2004). Toward a unified theory of logistics. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 34(8), 606-627. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600030410557758
  • Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Pearson. Özgen, N. ve Kahyaoğlu, M. (Ed.) (2019). Sürdürülebilirlik kalkınma. Pegem Akademi.
  • Pagell, M. ve Wu, Z. (2009). Building a more complete theory of sustainable supply chain management using case studies of 10 exemplars. Journal of supply chain management, 45(2), 37-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.2009.03162.x
  • Payán‐Sánchez, B., Plaza‐Úbeda, J. A., Pérez‐Valls, M. ve Carmona‐Moreno, E. (2018). Social embeddedness for sustainability in the aviation sector. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 25(4), 537-553. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1477
  • Qatar Airways. (2023). Group Sustainability Report. https://www.qatarairways.com/content/dam/documents/environmental/sustainability-report-2022-2023.pdf
  • Ross, D. F. (2010). Introduction to supply chain management technologies. Second Edition, CRC Press. Thummala, V. ve Hiremath, R. B. (2022). Green aviation in India: Airline's implementation for achieving sustainability. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clrc.2022.100082
  • Tunca, H. Ö. (2022). Stratejik Planlama Kapsamında Türkiye’de Lojistik ve Havayolu Lojistiği. Havacılık ve Uzay Çalışmaları Dergisi, 3(1), 41-61. https://doi.org/10.52995/jass.1144700
  • Türk Hava Yolları. (2023). 2023 Sürdürülebilirlik Raporu. https://tinyurl.com/sbjxm4x2 United Parcel Service. (2023). 2023 Global Reporting Initiative. https://tinyurl.com/2uedsbdx
  • World Bank. (2023). Logistics Performance Index. https://lpi.worldbank.org/ World Commission on Environment and Development, Birleşmiş Milletler (1987). Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. https://tinyurl.com/ywz93sfj
  • Yıldırım, A. ve Şimşek, H. (2016). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayınları.
  • Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage publications.
  • Zieba, M. ve Johansson, E. (2022). Sustainability reporting in the airline industry: Current literature and future research avenues. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 102, 103133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2021.103133

Havayolu Şirketlerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamalarının Stratejik Lojistik Perspektifi ile İncelenmesi

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 28, 754 - 775
https://doi.org/10.25204/iktisad.1664825

Abstract

Sürdürülebilirlik uygulamaları, son dönemlerde işletmelerin üzerine yoğunlaştığı önemli uygulamalar haline gelmiştir. Hava kargo taşımacılığının küresel tedarik zincirlerinde ki öneminin her geçen gün artması bu sektörde sürdürülebilirlik uygulamalarını ön plana çıkartmaktadır. Bu çalışma, havayolu şirketlerinin sürdürülebilirlik uygulamalarını stratejik lojistik yönetimi perspektifiyle analiz etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Küresel ölçekte hava kargo hacmi en yüksek yedi havayolu şirketinin sürdürülebilirlik raporları içerik analizi yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Analiz sonucunda karbon emisyonunun azaltılması, sürdürülebilir havacılık yakıtı (SAF) kullanımı, filo modernizasyonu, dijitalleşme, atık yönetimi, tesis altyapısının geliştirilmesi, personel hakları ve toplumsal katkı gibi başlıca temalar ön plana çıkmıştır. Bulgular, bu uygulamaların yalnızca çevresel sorumlulukla sınırlı kalmadığını; aynı zamanda işletmelerin uzun vadeli stratejik lojistik planlamaları, operasyonel verimlilik hedefleri, kaynak yönetimi ve dijital dönüşüm stratejileriyle entegre biçimde yapılandırıldığını ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışma kapsamında geliştirilen kavramsal çerçeve ve kodlama sistemi, sürdürülebilirlik odaklı lojistik analizlerin stratejik düzeyde değerlendirilmesine yönelik özgün bir model sunmaktadır. Bu yönüyle araştırma, literatüre teorik katkı sağlamanın yanı sıra lojistik karar vericilere uygulamaya dönük stratejik bir yol haritası da sunmaktadır.

References

  • Aircargo News. (2024, 2 Eylül). Havayolu şirketlerinin CTK sıralaması. https://www.aircargonews.net/top-25-cargo-carriers-cargo-goes-slow-on-growth-in-2023/1073135.article
  • Al Sarrah, M., Ajmal, M. M. ve Mertzanis, C. (2021). Identification of sustainability indicators in the civil aviation sector in Dubai: A stakeholders’ perspective. Social Responsibility Journal, 17(5), 648-668. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-06-2019-0203
  • Alameeri, A., Ajmal, M. M., Hussain, M. ve Helo, P. T. (2017). Sustainability practices in the aviation sector: A study of UAE-based airlines. International Journal of Sustainable Society, 9(2), 119-147. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSSOC.2017.086818
  • Atlas Air. (2023). Sustainability Report. https://tinyurl.com/5n95b3jx Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics and supply chain management: logistics & supply chain management. Pearson.
  • Dubey, R., Gunasekaran, A., Childe, S. J., Papadopoulos, T. ve Helo, P. (2017). Supplier relationship management for circular economy: Influence of external pressures and top management commitment. Management Decision, 55(2), 236-258. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-04-2018-0396
  • Duran, B. (2018). Sürdürülebilirlik kavramının önemi, karşılaşılan sorunlar ve şirketlerin sürdürülebilirlik raporlarının incelenmesi (Yayımlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi). Başkent Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü. Ankara.
  • Ekici, F. (2023). Sustainability in aviation and current practices. Altıntaş, H., Mete, M. ve Bozaslan, B., N. (Ed.), International research and reviews in social, human and administrative science içinde (s. 209-224). Serüven Yayınevi.
  • Emirates. (2023). Annual Report. https://c.ekstatic.net/ecl/documents/annual-report/2023-2024.pdf Federal Express. (2024). 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. https://tinyurl.com/3pn57xx5
  • Grant, D. B., Wong, C. Y. ve Trautrims, A. (2017). Sustainable logistics and supply chain management: Principles and practices for sustainable operations and management. Kogan Page Publishers.
  • Guimarans, D., Arias, P., Tomasella, M. ve Wu, C. L. (2019). A review of sustainability in aviation: A multidimensional perspective. J. Faulin, S. E. Grasman, A. A. Juan, ve P. Hirsch (Ed.), Sustainable Transportation and Smart Logistics içinde (s. 91-121). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814242-4.00004-1
  • Heyes, G., Urquhart, C., Hooper, P. ve Thomas, C. (2023). Comprehensive Strategic Analysis for Sustainability: An Aviation Industry Case Study. Sustainability, 15(11), 8806. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118806
  • International Air Transport Association. (2020). International Air Transport Association Annual Review 2020. https://www.iata.org/contentassets/c81222d96c9a4e0bb4ff6ced0126f0bb/iata-annual-review-2020.pdf
  • International Air Transport Association. (2024). Cargo, https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/
  • International Air Transport Association. (2025a). Understanding Air Traffic Metrics. https://www.iata.org/en/publications/newsletters/iata-knowledge-hub/understanding-air-traffic-metrics/
  • International Air Transport Association. (2025b). Our Commitment to Fly Net Zero by 2050. https://www.iata.org/en/programs/sustainability/flynetzero/
  • Karaman, A. S., Kilic, M. ve Uyar, A. (2018). Sustainability reporting in the aviation industry: worldwide evidence. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 9(4), 362-391. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-12-2017-0150
  • Kılıç, M., Uyar, A. ve Karaman, A. S. (2019). What impacts sustainability reporting in the global aviation industry? An institutional perspective. Transport Policy, 79, 54-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2019.04.017
  • Korean Air. (2023). ESG Report. https://www.koreanair.com/contents/footer/about-us/sustainable-management/report?hl=en
  • Krippendorff, K. (2012). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Sage Pablications.
  • Lune, H. ve Berg, B. L. (2017). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. Pearson.
  • Mentzer, J. T., Min, S. ve Michelle Bobbitt, L. (2004). Toward a unified theory of logistics. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 34(8), 606-627. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600030410557758
  • Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Pearson. Özgen, N. ve Kahyaoğlu, M. (Ed.) (2019). Sürdürülebilirlik kalkınma. Pegem Akademi.
  • Pagell, M. ve Wu, Z. (2009). Building a more complete theory of sustainable supply chain management using case studies of 10 exemplars. Journal of supply chain management, 45(2), 37-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.2009.03162.x
  • Payán‐Sánchez, B., Plaza‐Úbeda, J. A., Pérez‐Valls, M. ve Carmona‐Moreno, E. (2018). Social embeddedness for sustainability in the aviation sector. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 25(4), 537-553. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1477
  • Qatar Airways. (2023). Group Sustainability Report. https://www.qatarairways.com/content/dam/documents/environmental/sustainability-report-2022-2023.pdf
  • Ross, D. F. (2010). Introduction to supply chain management technologies. Second Edition, CRC Press. Thummala, V. ve Hiremath, R. B. (2022). Green aviation in India: Airline's implementation for achieving sustainability. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clrc.2022.100082
  • Tunca, H. Ö. (2022). Stratejik Planlama Kapsamında Türkiye’de Lojistik ve Havayolu Lojistiği. Havacılık ve Uzay Çalışmaları Dergisi, 3(1), 41-61. https://doi.org/10.52995/jass.1144700
  • Türk Hava Yolları. (2023). 2023 Sürdürülebilirlik Raporu. https://tinyurl.com/sbjxm4x2 United Parcel Service. (2023). 2023 Global Reporting Initiative. https://tinyurl.com/2uedsbdx
  • World Bank. (2023). Logistics Performance Index. https://lpi.worldbank.org/ World Commission on Environment and Development, Birleşmiş Milletler (1987). Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. https://tinyurl.com/ywz93sfj
  • Yıldırım, A. ve Şimşek, H. (2016). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayınları.
  • Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage publications.
  • Zieba, M. ve Johansson, E. (2022). Sustainability reporting in the airline industry: Current literature and future research avenues. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 102, 103133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2021.103133
There are 32 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects International Business, Strategy, Management and Organisational Behaviour (Other)
Journal Section Research Papers
Authors

Doğan Kılıç 0000-0003-2696-8231

Muhammed Turgut 0000-0002-0868-7041

Early Pub Date October 17, 2025
Publication Date October 21, 2025
Submission Date March 24, 2025
Acceptance Date July 14, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 10 Issue: 28

Cite

APA Kılıç, D., & Turgut, M. (2025). Havayolu Şirketlerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamalarının Stratejik Lojistik Perspektifi ile İncelenmesi. İktisadi İdari Ve Siyasal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 10(28), 754-775. https://doi.org/10.25204/iktisad.1664825
AMA Kılıç D, Turgut M. Havayolu Şirketlerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamalarının Stratejik Lojistik Perspektifi ile İncelenmesi. JEBUPOR. October 2025;10(28):754-775. doi:10.25204/iktisad.1664825
Chicago Kılıç, Doğan, and Muhammed Turgut. “Havayolu Şirketlerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamalarının Stratejik Lojistik Perspektifi Ile İncelenmesi”. İktisadi İdari Ve Siyasal Araştırmalar Dergisi 10, no. 28 (October 2025): 754-75. https://doi.org/10.25204/iktisad.1664825.
EndNote Kılıç D, Turgut M (October 1, 2025) Havayolu Şirketlerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamalarının Stratejik Lojistik Perspektifi ile İncelenmesi. İktisadi İdari ve Siyasal Araştırmalar Dergisi 10 28 754–775.
IEEE D. Kılıç and M. Turgut, “Havayolu Şirketlerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamalarının Stratejik Lojistik Perspektifi ile İncelenmesi”, JEBUPOR, vol. 10, no. 28, pp. 754–775, 2025, doi: 10.25204/iktisad.1664825.
ISNAD Kılıç, Doğan - Turgut, Muhammed. “Havayolu Şirketlerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamalarının Stratejik Lojistik Perspektifi Ile İncelenmesi”. İktisadi İdari ve Siyasal Araştırmalar Dergisi 10/28 (October2025), 754-775. https://doi.org/10.25204/iktisad.1664825.
JAMA Kılıç D, Turgut M. Havayolu Şirketlerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamalarının Stratejik Lojistik Perspektifi ile İncelenmesi. JEBUPOR. 2025;10:754–775.
MLA Kılıç, Doğan and Muhammed Turgut. “Havayolu Şirketlerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamalarının Stratejik Lojistik Perspektifi Ile İncelenmesi”. İktisadi İdari Ve Siyasal Araştırmalar Dergisi, vol. 10, no. 28, 2025, pp. 754-75, doi:10.25204/iktisad.1664825.
Vancouver Kılıç D, Turgut M. Havayolu Şirketlerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamalarının Stratejik Lojistik Perspektifi ile İncelenmesi. JEBUPOR. 2025;10(28):754-75.