From hero to zero: Barriers to achieving IATA’s 2050 sustainability targets

Sustainable operations have become essential for mitigating the environmental impact of air transport and ensuring the long-term viability of the industry. Accordingly, achieving existing sustainability goals is crucial for reducing carbon emissions within the sector. This study presents an evaluation of the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) ambitious sustainability goals for 2050, focusing on the potential challenges and barriers that may impede their successful realization. Through a comprehensive survey circulated among carefully selected air transport sustainability researchers attending the Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) World Conference 2025, our study gathers independent academic expert perspectives on feasibility of IATA’s commitments. The survey, structured around six categories, namely estimation of goal completion, economic barriers, technological challenges, policy issues, industry resistance, and public factors — elicits expert opinions on the likelihood of achieving the stated sustainability targets. The survey reveals significant skepticism about achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with economic barriers, technological challenges, and regulatory issues being major hurdles. High costs, slow tech adoption, and lack of global regulatory frameworks are other concerns. By leveraging the expertise of air transport researchers, this study offers a unique and authoritative perspective on the challenges facing the aviation industry’s sustainability efforts.