Aviation and carbon emissions: Evidence from airport operations

Carbon emissions have become a significant concern for the development of the aviation industry. Current studies provide valuable insights into aircraft and airport construction's effect on carbon emissions at a micro level, while the impact of airport operations on cities' carbon emissions at a macro level remains under-investigated. This study investigates whether and how airport operation would affect cities' carbon emissions. This study draws a causality relying on a quasi-natural experiment based on airport operation shock events that increased certain cities' transportation options and changed cities' economic activities and carbon emissions. A total of 4938 datasets among 280 China's prefecture-level cities during the period 1999–2017 are analysed via the Difference-in-Differences model. Our estimation results show that airport operation significantly increases cities' carbon emissions, with a 4.3% increase in carbon emissions in cities that opened new airports compared to those cities without new airport operations. The mediation effect indicates that the substitution impact of transport increases cities' carbon emissions by 0.3%. Furthermore, increasing the science and technology expenditure ratio can offset the impact of airport operations on cities' carbon emissions. Our study provides implications for policymakers and stakeholders concerning mitigating carbon emissions to promote the green aviation industry and optimise airport construction and operation. •Airport operation significantly increases cities' carbon emissions.•Increase in science and technology expenditure can offset carbon emissions.•Green aviation should be promoted.