Latest industry survey shows CEO commitment remains strong as sustainability evolves from regulatory compliance to a core business priority
The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has released its 2026 Air Cargo Sustainability Insights Report, revealing that the global air cargo industry is increasingly embedding sustainability into its long-term business strategy, despite a noticeable easing of external regulatory and stakeholder pressure.
Presented during the TIACA Executive Summit 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, the sixth edition of the annual report provides one of the industry’s most comprehensive assessments of sustainability trends, drawing on responses from airlines, airports, freight forwarders, ground handlers, shippers, manufacturers, technology providers and other air cargo stakeholders worldwide.
The findings suggest that sustainability is no longer viewed merely as a compliance requirement but has become an integral component of corporate governance, operational resilience and long-term business growth.
Sustainability becomes part of corporate DNA
One of the report’s most significant conclusions is that sustainability initiatives are now being driven increasingly by internal leadership rather than external pressure.
Overall sustainability pressure declined to 53%, its lowest level since TIACA began tracking the metric in 2021. However, this reduction has not diminished corporate commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives.
Instead, executive leadership support has reached record levels.
According to the report:
- 95% of respondents said sustainability is actively supported by their Chief Executive Officer.
- 92% indicated their CEO considers sustainability a strategic business priority.
- 92% said sustainability is equally or more important than it was one year ago.
- 72% have implemented a formal corporate sustainability strategy.
The report also found that 73% of participating organisations now consider sustainability to be part of their company’s organisational DNA, reflecting a significant cultural shift across the global air cargo sector.
Leadership commitment remains robust
Commenting on the findings, Roos Bakker, Chair of TIACA, said the industry has reached an important stage in its sustainability journey.
“What is particularly encouraging in this year’s report is that sustainability is no longer being driven solely by external pressures or regulatory requirements. Even as sustainability pressure has declined to its lowest level since 2021, we see overwhelming support from company leadership, with 95% of respondents confirming CEO commitment and nearly three-quarters reporting that sustainability is now part of their company’s DNA.”
She added that the findings demonstrate the industry’s growing recognition that sustainability is a strategic business imperative capable of strengthening resilience, encouraging innovation and supporting long-term competitiveness.
ESG integrated into core business processes
The report highlights the increasing maturity of sustainability programmes throughout the air cargo value chain.
Rather than operating as standalone initiatives, ESG principles are now being integrated into fundamental business processes.
Among respondents:
- 65% incorporate ESG considerations into enterprise risk management.
- 70% include sustainability criteria within procurement decisions.
- 79% actively collaborate with industry partners to advance sustainability objectives.
These findings indicate that sustainability is becoming embedded across governance structures, supplier relationships and operational planning rather than remaining isolated within environmental reporting functions.
Sustainability and resilience increasingly interconnected
A notable trend identified in the report is the growing relationship between sustainability and business resilience.
While environmental performance continues to dominate sustainability agendas, 41% of respondents now define sustainability using comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles—an increase from the previous year.
Additionally, 33% explicitly include organisational resilience within their sustainability definitions, recognising that climate adaptation, supply chain continuity and operational flexibility are becoming increasingly interconnected.
According to Glyn Hughes, Director General of TIACA, the report demonstrates the industry’s continued progress beyond compliance-driven sustainability programmes.
“The findings demonstrate that sustainability in air cargo has evolved beyond compliance and external expectations. While regulatory and stakeholder pressures have eased in many markets, organizations continue to strengthen their sustainability commitments, invest in climate adaptation, and integrate ESG principles into core business processes. This reflects a maturing industry that increasingly recognizes sustainability as a strategic imperative and a driver of long-term resilience.”
Climate adaptation gains momentum
The report also reveals growing industry investment in climate resilience.
Approximately 68% of surveyed organisations have already incorporated climate adaptation measures into their business strategies.
These initiatives include investments in:
- Climate-resilient infrastructure
- Enterprise risk management
- Business continuity planning
- Long-term capital investment strategies
The findings suggest companies are preparing not only to reduce emissions but also to strengthen operational resilience against the long-term impacts of climate change.
Decarbonisation efforts continue to advance
The report identifies several practical decarbonisation initiatives currently receiving the greatest industry focus.
The leading priorities include:
- 73% reducing overall energy consumption.
- 59% improving vehicle and ground asset utilisation.
- 58% modernising operational fleets.
- 55% investing in greener buildings and airport infrastructure.
- 40% actively deploying Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or other fossil-free energy solutions—an increase of eight percentage points compared with 2025.
The growing adoption of SAF and alternative energy technologies reflects the industry’s broader commitment to reducing carbon emissions while maintaining operational efficiency.
Workforce development and innovation remain top priorities
Beyond environmental initiatives, respondents identified people, innovation and digital transformation as essential pillars of sustainable growth.
The highest-ranked sustainability priorities were:
- Training and education (98%)
- Digitalisation (98%)
- Innovation (96%)
- Continuous improvement and operational excellence (96%)
- Business partner support (95%)
- Employee experience (93%)
- Industry collaboration (93%)
These findings reinforce the industry’s view that technological innovation and workforce capability are fundamental to achieving long-term sustainability objectives.
Regional differences remain
The report also highlights varying levels of sustainability integration across different regions.
Companies headquartered in Asia reported the strongest organisational integration, with 87% stating sustainability forms part of their corporate culture.
This compares with:
- 80% in the Middle East and Africa
- 73% in Europe
- 44% in the Americas
The regional variations illustrate differing levels of ESG maturity while confirming that sustainability remains a strategic priority across all major air cargo markets.
Industry outlook
TIACA concludes that although external sustainability pressure may be moderating in some regions due to evolving regulatory frameworks, internal corporate commitment continues to strengthen.
Across the global air cargo industry, organisations are increasingly integrating sustainability into governance, operational planning, procurement, investment decisions and business strategy—creating a more resilient, digitally enabled and future-focused sector.
The 2026 Air Cargo Sustainability Insights Report is available for download through TIACA following its official presentation at the TIACA Executive Summit 2026 in Warsaw.
