Sustainability and Operational Efficiency in Air Cargo: Insights from Turkish Cargo's Management Practices

This study examines the concepts of sustainability management and efficiency in air cargo companies. In particular, the impacts of sustainability-focused activities carried out by Turkish Cargo between 2018 and 2023 on operational efficiency were evaluated. Based on THY Inc.’s sustainability reports, we conducted a qualitative analysis by evaluating and interpreting Turkish Cargo’s sustainability management and efficiency-focused initiatives. By extracting cargo data from the general reports published by THY Inc. between 2018 and 2023 and Turkish Cargo’s sustainable management policies, we determined that the company primarily focuses on sustainable growth, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and efficiency. We also found that Turkish Cargo aims to achieve efficiency through digitalization and fleet management during this period. This study addresses a gap in existing research by focusing on the evaluation of sustainability management and efficiency concepts in air cargo transportation. Our analysis of Turkish Cargo provides a unique example at both the sectoral and organizational levels by revealing the tangible results of sustainability management. Offering a new perspective on the integration of sustainability management with efficiency, this study contributes to the literature at both theoretical and practical levels.