The Environmental Effect Of Operational Planning And Execution

Cowper-Smith & de Grosbois (2011, p.59) stated that airlines are not currently focusing enough on their social responsibilities, an area in which Qantas should look to be at the head of their industry. The way in which Qantas operates can have monumental impacts not only on their customers but to the environment itself. Planes although a current need in society also come with a heavy amount of baggage which influences the environment. Aircraft noise, impact on local air quality are just some of the by-products of aircraft travel (Goodman, 2009 p.14). The most discussed and criticised issue within aircraft travel in the modern climate however, is the affect that it has on the environment. This is due to amount of emissions in which are consumed through aircraft travel. Shell aviation the “leading global supplier of world-class aviation fuel and lubricants” supplies almost 7000 aircrafts with fuel each day, refuelling a plane every 12 seconds. Qantas airlines should be knowledgeable on how much fuel they are using and the type of fuel they are using. Pollution resulting from greenhouse gasses and emissions can result in horrific consequences for the environment. Examples of costs that Qantas may endure from its impact on the environment could be adding to the growing concern of global warming throughout the world (Kolstad, 1996 p.1). This is leading to issues such as sea level rising, melting of snow and ice and changes to plant growth and nutrition

Many firms are learning that being environmentally friendly and sustainable has numerous benefits. (O.C Ferrell, Fraedrich, Ferrell, 2015). This could enable them to increase goodwill from various stakeholders and also save money in the long term. This will mean that they are being more efficient and less wasteful of resources, which will enable them to be more competitive by satisfying stakeholders. The CEO of

Delta is dedicated to minimize its impact on the environment and conduct its operations in an environmentally responsible manner. The company’s ongoing sustainability efforts include increasing transparency by tracking its greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring that the company’s emissions reduction target aligns with those set out by IATA (International Air Transport Association). In addition, the company is encouraging its employees and customers to reduce waste through initiatives such as in-flight recycling, employee recycling centers, employee alternative commute options, e-ticketing and aircraft carpet recycling.

The implementation of the carbon tax had a negative affect on the aviation industry, as the airlines could not absorb the higher cost of fuel. This meant to offset costs travelers would pay extra in ticket prices (Herald, 2011).

In 2012, transportation accounted for 19% of the total global energy consumption, 96% of which was produced by fossil fuels [1, p. 201]. Furthermore, air transport is the most carbon intensive mode of transportation, accounting for approximately 10 times more carbon emissions than road transport and 100 times more than shipping (per tonne km) [2, p. 4].

The objective of this research paper is to describe how the 21St Century utilized concepts , such as corporate social responsibility in relation with triple bottom line, to shift the airline industry into becoming a forward-thinking industry embedding sustainability into their core of business operations to create shared value for business and society. I will define corporate social responsibility and areas of social responsibility in the airline industry at the beginning of the paper and proceed with how it ties into the bottom line concept. Next, I will give brief examples of airlines such as JetBlue Airways, and British Airways how they apply these concepts into their mission. In conclusion, I will express my own thoughts about how different generations based their purchases and career decisions on these concepts.

Planet: Operations managers are always looking for ways to reduce companies environmental impact on the earth, and they achieve this through careful selection of raw materials, process innovations, alternative product delivery methods or disposal of end of life

Lockheed Martin already has several sources of competitive advantage that it uses effectively to gain leverage in the market place. However, given that the budget of its main customer is highly volatile the corporation should look to other sources of competitive advantage. It would be advantageous of the corporation to use its innovate workforce and emerging technology to develop “green” aircraft that use less fuel and emit less harmful emission. This would be a win for the environment, the customer, and the corporation—and clearly position the corporation as an industry

Southwest Airlines possesses a very flexible and dynamic organizational structure that allows it to react rapidly, adapt swiftly and view environmental changes as opportunities rather than threats. After September 11, many companies went bankrupt due to this there was an unmet demand of flights. Southwest has taken the need of people to fly faster from one place to another and used it to their advantage by offering safest, fastest and cheapest way. The improved website can help attract more customers. As, it uses only one kind of aircraft its engineers can model an alternative fuel to lower fuel cost and conserve the environment. As proven

“For over 75 years Alaska Airlines, and the people who make us who we are, have been guided by integrity, caring, ingenuity, professionalism, and a unique spirit. A spirit that was has grown out of our geographical roots” (Overview Alaska Airlines). Alaska Airlines have founded the corporation by its three guiding principles of: the people, the community, and the environment. The people comprise of those individuals who make up Alaska Airlines and work to unsure its success day in and day out. The community is those who are impacted by the services of Alaska Airlines, such community can be through the services they offer or the charitable contributions they make. Finally, the environment has to do with the sustainability of the environment in which they live and operate. Much of their success is based on their commitment to leading their industry and organization with superior values. Many of the values that leadership at Alaska Airlines hold are similar to the eleven leadership principles of the US Marine Corps. The principles that overlap both groups include: be technically and tactically proficient, set the example, train as a team, develop a sense of accountability, and seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions (Hess &Cameron, 2006, p.222). Alaska Airlines undoubtedly sets a precedence for the last two principles as sustainability is one of their fundamental

Since the development of commercial of air travel, Airline operations have had negative effects on both people’s health and the health of the environment. Because of this many airports, like many other industries, are coming under great pressure to develop greener and more sustainable business models. In the United States, many companies have changed their practices in order to adhere to government regulations, but lately there are a growing number of companies that have been more proactive in their adoption of greener practices. The Chicago O’Hare airport operated by the Chicago Aviation Department, the CDA, is one such organization that has taken upon itself to try to become one of the industry’s leading sustainable companies. They have

In addition, American Airlines also prides itself on maintaining a happy healthy work environment so they can maintain a positive surrounding community. They do this through acting as responsible stewards as well as reducing their mark on the environment. They act as responsible stewards through continuously looking for new ideas and opportunities to further improve their environmental performance.(Corporate Responsibility) In 2009 they made impeccable improvement to the environment in several was such as the fact that their environmental initiatives resulted in the reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions related fuel from 2008. This is not the only way they have aided in the improvements of the environment they also saved at least $10 million through energy-saving initiatives, as well as increasing fuel-efficiency. Furthermore, they signed agreements in partnership with 15 other airlines to purchase future supplies of alternative fuels they also reduced ozone depleting substances through the replacement of certain industrial cleaning products. (Corporate Responsibility)

Southwest Airlines practices environmental responsibility by reducing excess waste and invests in cost-saving, energy efficient equipment. By using cost-effective and environmentally beneficial operating procedures (including facilities and equipment), SWA reduces the amount of materials used, and when combined with their ability to reuse and recycle material, they help preserve the environment. (The Mission of

Aviation contributes approximately 2 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, a figure which is projected to grow through 2050. Although fuel efficiency has improved by nearly 16 percent since the 1990s, future technologies—including better flight patterns, more-efficient engines, and alternative fuels—have promise for further emissions reductions. The profitability challenges of the early twenty-first century, however, affect the industry's ability to invest in new technology. (Hill, 2010 17-22)

The realm of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is to increase business profitability and opportunities by making improvements in terms of operational effectiveness throughout the value chain (Rangan, Chase & Karim, 2012). This increasingly popular CSR among corporate and academic leaders is synonymous to the “shared value” framework, whereby organizations seek to co-create economic and social value. According to Ridurnolu, Prhalad and Rangaswami (2009), corporations from the United States recognize the business value of revolutionizing new manufacturing and technology that cut operating costs while minimizing impacts on the environment. This CSR domain focuses on operational efficiency and also building revenue, with the initiative to be determined by the ability to improve the corporate bottom line while at the same time returning social value. To achieve that, the strategy is to reengineer a corporation’s entire value chain, which stems from natural resource extraction and sourcing to manufacturing, shipping and product delivering.