Συγκριτική  αξιολόγηση εκθέσεων βιωσιμότητας αεροπορικών εταιρειών στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση

Σούτσου, Χριστίνα

Comparative evaluation of sustainability reports of airlines in the European Union

Master Thesis

Author

Σούτσου, Χριστίνα

Date

2025-05

Abstract

This thesis conducts a comparative evaluation of sustainability reports published by European airline groups, with fleet size employed as the selection criterion. Accordingly, the analysis focuses on a sample of four of the largest airline groups in Europe: Ryanair, SAS, Wizz Air, and Lufthansa. The theoretical framework distinguishes between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, emphasizing the strategic importance of embedding these concepts within the corporate agenda. In this context, the study also reviews key sustainability reporting standards and frameworks, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) issued by the European Union, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) guidelines, and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations. These frameworks are instrumental in enhancing the transparency, reliability, and comparability of non-financial disclosures across organizations. Furthermore, the study examines sustainability initiatives within the aviation sector, with emphasis on the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), the integration of advanced lowemission technologies, the implementation of market-based mechanisms, and the pursuit of operational efficiency as pathways to decarbonization and long-term resilience. The subsequent sections present background information on the selected airline groups, followed by an analysis of the structure and content of their respective sustainability reports. Specific focus is placed on materiality assessments, reporting standards applied, reporting periods, and other foundational elements. For each group, the study presents an overview of sustainability-related initiatives, performance indicators, strategic targets, and key actions, categorized under the three pillars of sustainability: Environmental (E), Social (S), and Governance (G). The analysis covers key areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, employee health and safety, training and development, operational performance, and corporate governance practices. From the comparative assessment, it emerges that—despite variations in report structure, information scope, and maturity level—all four airline groups pursue a unified strategic approach to sustainability. In particular, they converge on core areas of intervention—namely climate change mitigation, energy efficiency, and social responsibility—reflecting an industry‐wide shift toward more accountable and sustainable business models. Moreover, each group devotes extensive analysis to climate change, which is identified as a critical, long-term challenge poised to dominate the sector’s agenda in the coming years.

Postgraduate Studies Programme

Βιοοικονομία, Κυκλική Οικονομία και Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη

Department

Σχολή Οικονομικών, Επιχειρηματικών και Διεθνών Σπουδών. Τμήμα Οικονομικής Επιστήμης

Number of pages

110

Language

Greek

URI

https://dione.lib.unipi.gr/xmlui/handle/unipi/17820

Collections

Τμήμα Οικονομικής Επιστήμης

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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as
Αναφορά Δημιουργού-Μη Εμπορική Χρήση-Όχι Παράγωγα Έργα 3.0 Ελλάδα