Title: Mapping expert perspectives of the aviation sector

Authors: Namasoondrum P. Mootien; James P. Warren; Dick Morris; Marcus P. Enoch

Addresses: School of Sustainable Development and Tourism (SSDT), University of Technology, La Tour Koenig, Pointe-aux-Sables, Mauritius ' The Design Group, Department of Design, Development, Environment & Materials, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK ' Department of Communications & Systems, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK ' Transport Studies Group, School of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK

Abstract: Aviation globally is characterised by significant change and consequently the future of the sector has always been difficult to predict. This study adopts a systemic approach based on findings from exploratory interviews with UK aviation academics to: determine the roles of stakeholders in the air transport system; report the current issues facing the sector; explore how these issues interact and impact on the stakeholders in the system; and speculate on the future implications. Six core stakeholders are identified: airlines, airports, consumers, manufacturers, governing institutions and interest groups. Nine core issues are reported, namely: local environment, climate change, peak oil, the state of the economy, social norms, demographics, disruptive events, national (or international) regulations and capacity. A matrix of interactions and their impacts and implications for managing the aviation system is then presented.

Keywords: aviation issues; air transport; future scenarios; stakeholders; expert perspectives; SSM; soft systems methodology; airlines; airports; exploratory interviews; aviation management; local environment; climate change; peak oil; economic conditions; social norms; demographics; disruptive events; regulations; capacity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2013.053631

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2013 Vol.16 No.3, pp.179 - 202

Received: 30 Jun 2011
Accepted: 18 Apr 2012

Published online: 17 Sep 2014 *

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