Supporting the transition to Net Zero targets: A methodology for the environmental impact assessment of airport ground handling operations

Airports are complex infrastructures with a significant environmental impact. In response, global policymakers have set ambitious decarbonization targets to achieve net-zero emissions. Among airport activities, ground handling operations represent significant emissions' sources but remain underexplored due to their classification as scope 3 by airport operators. This paper develops a standardized and scalable methodology to quantify the environmental impact in terms of energy consumption and emissions of aircraft turnaround operations at any airport, considering aircraft size, stand types and ground support equipment electrification. Aircraft size is the main driver of energy consumption and emissions (up to 405 kWh and 260 kg of CO 2 per operation). Contact stands generally reduce both metrics and rely mainly on electricity (60%), while remote stands depend more on fuel (60%). In both configurations, over 70% of emissions are attributable to boarding bridges and auxiliary power units. Aggregated annual results across standard airports for each category indicate that energy use and emissions during turnaround operations can reach 108,400 MWh and 45,300 t of CO 2 . Comparison with real data from selected airports shows that the proposed methodology achieves an emissions deviation below 6.2%, demonstrating its robustness and reliability. Overall, this methodology offers valuable insights to airport stakeholders for assessing the environmental impact of airport operations, thereby providing a quantitative basis for future decarbonization decision-making. • Airport annual ground operations can reach emission levels of 45,300 t CO₂. • A single airport ground operation consumes and emits up to 405 kWh and 260 kg CO 2 . • Aircraft size is the main driver of ground operations environmental impact. • Emissions comparison between methodology and real data shows a deviation below 6.2%.