Sustainable Airport Development: A Literature Review

Airport sustainability has gained increasing attention as the aviation industry faces the challenge of balancing economic growth, environmental responsibility and social standards. This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) using the OpenAlex database. The PRISMA 2020 (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology was applied to refine the selection process, resulting in 66 relevant studies. Then, a bibliometric-systematic literature review (B-SLR) approach was employed to analyze trends and identify research gaps. Findings indicate that most studies often focus on two sustainability pillars at a time, while neglecting a fully integrated perspective. Not many research works simultaneously address all three dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental and social), leading to fragmented insights into sustainable airport management. Notably, some industry-driven reports are starting to suggest emerging holistic approaches, but the majority of academic literature remains segmented. Hence, this study highlights the need for a more comprehensive research framework that considers environmental, economic, and social factors concurrently. Future research should integrate these dimensions to develop practical and well-balanced sustainability strategies. While methodological limitations may exist in this work, such as language constraints and dataset selection criteria, this review provides valuable insights into airport sustainability and lays the groundwork for further studies.