Transforming airports to fuel sustainable aviation

Staying on track to net zero by 2050 requires a formidable effort from major emitting industries, including aviation. Decarbonizing the industry requires large-scale technological advancement in green energy provision, but airports need to be equipped.

Led by the World Economic Forum and Airports Council International, the Airports of Tomorrow initiative is tackling the structural challenges and barriers to making the 2050 goal a reality. More than 50 CEOs have joined forces to transform airports into clean energy hubs.

From equipment manufacturers and fuel producers to engineering firms and airports, partners include Airbus, Arup, Boeing, Dallas Fort Worth, Dufry, LanzaJet, London Heathrow, Mundys Aeroporti di Roma, and Neste.

The aviation industry is accountable for 2.5% of total CO2 emissions. It is, therefore, central to global decarbonization efforts.

Airports are at the core of the complex supply chain that keeps aviation moving, contributing to around 3% of the industry’s total emissions. Their stakeholders include everyone who uses, works at or lives near them, and the businesses that serve them – including airlines, aircraft manufacturers, fuel producers, and ground-handling service providers.

This access to all main industry actors means that airports have a key role to play in mobilizing holistic action towards net-zero aviation. But this will require significant investment – approximately $175 billion per year, reaching $5 trillion by 2050 – to enable the transition to emerging technologies and alternative propulsion methods, such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and battery-electric- or hydrogen-powered flight.

Airports will need to invest $100 billion to build the infrastructure necessary for hydrogen and electric flight. In addition, several billion more are needed to electrify their ground-handling operations, improve building energy efficiency, and construct renewable energy generation.

Converting airports into green energy hubs that serve an interconnected array of stakeholders and functions will require massive on- and off-site infrastructure changes. The energy needs from electricity will be an estimated five-fold requirement compared to today’s propulsion methods.

Airports of Tomorrow is addressing the new infrastructure requirements for the energy transition. It brings together government leaders, climate experts and chief executives from the aviation, energy, construction and finance sectors who agree on the urgent need to reach net zero.

The initiative aims to maximize the potential for airports to be vehicles for economic growth and environmental prosperity through four pillars:

Airports of Tomorrow consolidates the aviation decarbonization work previously done by the Forum through its Clean Skies for Tomorrow and Target True Zero initiatives under one umbrella. It provides a platform for both public and private stakeholders to address the energy, infrastructure and financing needs of the aviation industry's transition to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The Airports of Tomorrow is an initiative of the Forum’s Centre for Nature and Climate. Companies are invited to join the centre to share their expertise, participate in projects and help accelerate aviation’s decarbonization journey.