Abstract
Airports are vital in the transportation industry, and effective airport management is critical to ensure optimal airport performance. This research aimed to identify Key Performance Areas (KPAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used across regions to assess airport management practices, focusing on how these can be integrated to manage energy and water sustainably. The five KPAs examined in the study include passenger services, operational and financial perspectives, safety and security, and environmental factors.
A systematic analysis was used to assess KPAs and KPIs for nine Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) airports. Data was collected from ACSA's Integrated Annual Reports, Annual Financial Statements and passenger traffic reports, covering the period from 2015/16 to 2022/23. The data was standardised for consistency, ensuring reliable data for analysis.
The research highlights that the focus of KPAs and KPIs varies for different regions. In Africa, airports focus on all the KPAs; however, not all the KPIs are efficiently implemented. Countries in Europe are leading in implementing environmental KPIs, especially in renewable and alternative energies.
KPIs to integrate into water and energy management were identified. These included water and energy consumption per passenger/aircraft movement, greenhouse gas emissions, water quality monitoring, reclaimed water usage, etc. For ACSA airports, environmental KPIs revealed positive progress, particularly in energy management, with electricity consumption consistently declining annually while the passenger throughput increased annually. This demonstrates the success of energy reduction initiatives and the implementation of renewable energy sources, indicating effective energy management strategies that align with sustainability goals. However, water consumption showed a fluctuating trend, suggesting a need for improved methods. The inconsistency in the captured water and waste recycled data revealed the need for improved water and waste management practices, given the importance of water and waste recycling in airport operations and its integration with other KPAs.
This research highlighted the need for water and energy management practices, providing recommendations for airport management. Future research should analyse individual ACSA airports to identify areas for improvement and develop tailored management plans in each KPA.