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Is air transport an effective tool for sustainable development?

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  • Ben Daley

    (Centre for Development, Environment and Policy, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, UK)

Abstract

Several authoritative studies indicate that air transport makes a strong, positive contribution to economic development - a contribution that far outweighs the environmental and social costs of aviation. This article investigates this benign view, analysing the assumptions upon which it is based and arguing that the relationship between air transport and economic benefits may be more complex than is commonly held. In particular, the benefits of air transport services may be highly unevenly distributed, with particular groups benefiting from air transport provision to a far greater extent than others. Hence this article poses the question of whether air transport is an effective tool for sustainable development, or whether it simply reinforces existing patterns of economic interest and political hegemony. Based on analysis of a range of key documents, some criteria are presented that could potentially be used to indicate how air transport may most effectively be used to promote sustainable development. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Daley, 2009. "Is air transport an effective tool for sustainable development?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 17(4), pages 210-219.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:17:y:2009:i:4:p:210-219
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.383
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Trojanek, Radoslaw & Huderek-Glapska, Sonia, 2018. "Measuring the noise cost of aviation – The association between the Limited Use Area around Warsaw Chopin Airport and property values," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 103-114.
    3. Frank Boons & Arwin Van Buuren & Geert Teisman, 2010. "Governance of sustainability at airports: Moving beyond the debate between growth and noise," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 34(4), pages 303-313, November.
    4. Njoya, Eric Tchouamou & Nikitas, Alexandros, 2020. "The role of air transport in employment creation and inclusive growth in the Global South: The case of South Africa," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    5. Murat Kucukvar & Khalel Ahmed Alawi & Galal M. Abdella & Muhammet Enis Bulak & Nuri C. Onat & Melih Bulu & Murat Yalçıntaş, 2021. "A frontier‐based managerial approach for relative sustainability performance assessment of the world's airports," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(1), pages 89-107, January.
    6. Yung‐Chuan Huang & Chih‐Hsing Liu, 2024. "Hybrid evaluation approach for the overall impression development through the sustainability concepts and strategy of competition," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 2268-2281, June.
    7. Ginieis, Matías & Sánchez-Rebull, María-Victoria & Campa-Planas, Fernando, 2012. "The academic journal literature on air transport: Analysis using systematic literature review methodology," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 31-35.
    8. Yaghoub Abdi & Xiaoni Li & Xavier Càmara‐Turull, 2022. "How financial performance influences investment in sustainable development initiatives in the airline industry: The moderation role of state‐ownership," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 1252-1267, October.

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