Lebanon case study finds support for greener aviation amid barriers

What the study found: The study found strong public support for more environmentally friendly aircraft and a generally favorable attitude toward environmental responsibility among stakeholder groups in Lebanon's airline industry. At the same time, it identified operational barriers that slow approval and implementation of sustainability efforts.

Why the authors say this matters: The authors conclude that the study adds to the limited literature on sustainable aviation in developing and fragile states by showing how stakeholder expectations and institutional realities interact. The findings indicate that policymakers and airline managers may need to align sector recovery with global sustainability objectives.

What the researchers tested: The researchers used a mixed-method evaluation of Middle East Airlines (MEA), combining passenger and staff surveys with interviews with senior managers and aviation experts. The study examined how organizational capacities, contextual hurdles, and environmental awareness relate to the viability of sustainability projects in Lebanon, using the Triple Bottom Line (a framework that considers environmental, social, and economic factors) and Stakeholder Theory.

What worked and what didn't: Public support for greener aircraft and positive attitudes toward environmental responsibility were reported as working in favor of sustainability efforts. However, the study also found barriers including fuel substitutes, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and financial instability, which delay approval.

What to keep in mind: The abstract does not describe detailed numerical results or the size of the sample. It also limits the study to MEA and the Lebanese fragile-state context, so the findings are framed as context-specific rather than broadly generalizable.

Key points

• The study found strong public support for more environmentally friendly aircraft in Lebanon.
• Stakeholder groups were generally favorable toward environmental responsibility.
• Operational barriers included fuel substitutes, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and financial instability.
• The study used surveys and interviews focused on Middle East Airlines (MEA).
• The authors say the work adds to limited literature on sustainable aviation in developing and fragile states.