Pathways to sustainable aviation in emerging economies: A case study of the airline industry in Lebanon

With the combination of growing regulatory pressure, increased environmental standards, and altering stakeholder needs, sustainable aviation has become a worldwide issue. In fragile-state environments shown by institutional instability, financial restrictions, and governance deficiencies, these complex relationships become more obvious. A mixed-method evaluation of Middle East Airlines (MEA) was achieved, combining passenger and staff surveys with interviews with senior managers and aviation experts. This study aims to investigate the potential of sustainable aviation in the fragile-state context of Lebanon. It explores how organizational capacities, contextual hurdles, and environmental awareness affect the viability of sustainability projects, based on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) and Stakeholder Theory. The findings demonstrate strong public support for more environmentally friendly aircraft and a generally favorable attitude toward environmental responsibility among stakeholder groups. Nevertheless, the results also underline several operational barriers that delay approval, such as fuel substitutes, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and financial instability. The paper contributes to the nascent literature on sustainable aviation within developing and fragile states through its context-sensitive framework that captures the interplay between stakeholder expectations and institutional realities. Practical suggestions are provided for policymakers and airline managers on how to align sectoral recovery with global sustainability objectives.