Multicriteria Decision Support for Sustainable Aviation: A Two-Decade Review

What is it about?

Aviation faces growing pressure to reduce its environmental impact while remaining economically viable. Over the past two decades, researchers have developed many tools to help decision-makers compare complex trade-offs, such as cost, emissions, efficiency, and safety. This paper reviews 115 studies published between 2005 and 2025 that use structured decision-support methods to evaluate sustainability challenges across the aviation system, including fuels, aircraft technologies, airline operations, airports, and policy design. We find that most studies focus on technical improvements at the infrastructure level, such as fuel production or aircraft performance, while fewer address governance, regulatory, and social considerations. By identifying where research has concentrated and where gaps remain, this review provides guidance for policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers seeking more integrated and forward-looking approaches to aviation decarbonization.

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