This bachelor thesis will firstly define the term sustainability and explain what it consists of according to the Triple Bottom Line Model by John Elkington by doing a systematic literature review. Furthermore, a closer look into the airline industry will be taken to analyse which challenges and possible opportunities carriers have to face during this significant transformation.
While focusing on the research question ‘to what extent is the Lufthansa Group adapting to the sustainable change?’, the Lufthansa Group will serve as the case study of this thesis to gain a deeper understanding of not only the theoretical elaboration but also the practical implementation of the Paris Agreement of Climate Change.
This analysis will firstly work out existing definitions of sustainability and sustainable development, which will be presented in the first chapter. Moreover, a small digression into sustainable tourism as a whole will be made, which serves as a transition to the main topic of this bachelor thesis: sustainability in the airline industry.
The theoretical framework of this paper will be the Triple Bottom Line Model by John Elkington. This model defines sustainability depending on three main pillars, which form the components of the term. Moreover, based on different political statements and reports, such as the Paris Agreement of Climate Change, as well as on statistics that prove not only the existence of global warming but also its consequences, the importance of this elaboration will be once more underlined.
In the end, balance and annual reports, which are placed at the disposal of the Lufthansa Group, will serve as the relevant data for analysing the application of the theory to the case study with the focus on the economic and social components.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
- 2.1 SUSTAINABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
- 2.3 THE PARIS AGREEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION
- 2.4 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
- 2.5 SUSTAINABILITY IN AVIATION
- 3. THEORY
- 3.1 THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE MODEL
- 3.2 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TBL MODEL
- 4. METHODOLOGY
- 4.1 RESEARCH DESIGN
- 4.2 SAMPLING
- 4.3 INTRODUCTION OF CASE STUDY BACKGROUND
- 5. ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
- 5.1 THE LUFTHANSA GROUP AND SUSTAINABILITY
- 5.2 THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT
- 5.2 THE SOCIAL ASPECT
- 5.3 THE ECONOMIC ASPECT
- 6. DISCUSSION
- 6.1 THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION
- 6.2 LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK
- 7. CONCLUSION
- 8. REFERENCES
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The primary objective of this bachelor thesis is to analyze the extent to which the Lufthansa Group is adapting to the sustainable change. This is achieved through an examination of the theoretical framework of sustainability, specifically the Triple Bottom Line model, and its practical implementation by the Lufthansa Group. The study explores the relationship between sustainability and the aviation industry, particularly in light of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. It aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of sustainability principles within the airline industry, highlighting the challenges and opportunities faced by carriers in this significant transformation.
- Sustainability and its multifaceted definition according to the Triple Bottom Line model.
- The impact of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change on the aviation industry.
- The theoretical framework of the Triple Bottom Line model and its practical implementation by the Lufthansa Group.
- The challenges and opportunities faced by airlines in the context of sustainable development.
- The extent of the Lufthansa Group's adaptation to the sustainable change.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter of the thesis provides a comprehensive definition of sustainability and explores various interpretations presented by different scholars. It sheds light on the complexities of defining sustainability and the challenges in identifying clear action priorities. The chapter also emphasizes the relevance of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and its impact on global industries, particularly aviation.
The second chapter delves deeper into the concept of sustainability, focusing on its theoretical framework and practical application. The Triple Bottom Line model, developed by John Elkington, is introduced as a key theoretical framework for understanding sustainability. The chapter analyzes the components of the model, including the environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The chapter then further explores the connection between sustainability and tourism, highlighting the role of the airline industry in achieving sustainable practices within the tourism sector.
The third chapter outlines the methodology employed in the research. The thesis utilizes a systematic literature review combined with a case study analysis. The chapter details the research design, sampling techniques, and the selection of the Lufthansa Group as the case study. It clarifies the rationale behind using secondary data from libraries and online resources to obtain quantitative and qualitative information.
The fourth chapter focuses on the analysis and findings of the research. It investigates the Lufthansa Group's approach to sustainability, examining their efforts across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The chapter analyzes relevant data, including balance and annual reports, to evaluate the company's sustainability performance.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the work include: sustainability, sustainable development, Triple Bottom Line model, aviation industry, Lufthansa Group, Paris Agreement on Climate Change, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, economic sustainability, case study analysis.
- Citar trabajo
- Ida Maria Richter (Autor), 2020, How Sustainable Development Affects the Aviation Industry. A Case Study of the Lufthansa Group, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/900844
