Strategic Pathways to Aviation Sustainability: Insights from Turkish Experts on Regulatory, Technological, and Market Responses

As the global aviation sector faces increasing pressure to meet decarbonization targets, transitional economies like Türkiye—positioned between emerging and developed markets—must navigate the complex intersection of international environmental mandates, evolving technological capabilities, and domestic implementation challenges. This study investigates the strategic and operational dimensions of sustainable aviation in Türkiye through four key lenses: regulatory adaptation (RQ1), challenges in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption (RQ2), the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing operational efficiency (RQ3), and the influence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices (RQ4). Based on semi-structured interviews with 14 aviation experts and thematic analysis, the findings reveal that Türkiye’s carriers face regulatory asymmetries between ICAO’s CORSIA and the EU ETS, limited SAF infrastructure and incentives, fragmented digital systems for AI integration, and inconsistent CSR adoption. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting how sustainability frameworks are adapted within transitional economies, where global mandates must be reconciled with national capabilities. It also provides actionable policy and managerial implications for harmonizing environmental governance, scaling clean energy infrastructure, and fostering digital transformation in aviation. These insights offer value for both domestic policymakers and international stakeholders seeking to enable sustainable transitions in complex regulatory environments.