Aviation accounts for approximately 3.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is a relatively small figure in absolute terms, but its actual impact on the climate is greater due to the altitude at which these emissions occur. The European Union is aware of this and has made the decarbonisation of air transport a top regulatory priority. For Spanish airports, this means one specific thing: Ground crews are going to have to learn to operate in a very different way to how they do today, and training is the key factor that determines whether that change takes place smoothly or with friction.
Regulatory pressure on the aviation sector: what the EU is requiring for 2030 and 2050
The European Green Deal and the parcel Fit for 55 set out a framework for reducing emissions from aviation that is already having an impact on airport operations. The targets are clear: a 55% reduction in net emissions by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, climate neutrality by 2050, and a growing obligation to use SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuels) which rises from 2% in 2025 to 70% in 2050. The EU ETS for aviation and the diagram ICAO CORSIA They introduce a layer of mandatory emissions reporting that directly affects how airports manage and document their ground operations. For operational teams, this is not some abstract regulation: it is a specific list of things they must be able to do.
How sustainability is changing ground operations
There are three particularly noticeable changes in airport operations. The Electrification of handling: Combustion-powered ground support equipment (GSE) is being replaced by electric versions at most European airports with active decarbonisation targets. The SAF management: Sustainable aviation fuel requires specific protocols for supply, traceability and reporting that did not exist five years ago. And the waste management and noise reduction on the platform, which form part of the programme’s requirements ACI Europe’s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), the global benchmark for environmental certification of airports. Each of these changes has direct implications for the training of ground handling staff.
New skills required by ground staff at sustainable airports
Not all roles require the same skills. An electrical GSE operator needs high-voltage safety skills that were not previously part of their role. A maintenance technician needs to know how to manage renewable energy systems. An operations coordinator needs to be able to interpret carbon footprint indicators. And an airport director needs to lead an ACA certification process involving all stakeholders operating at their facilities.
Airport sustainability certifications and standards: ACA and Level 2+
The Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) scheme ACI Europe’s scheme is the benchmark for environmental certification of airports. It has four levels: Mapping (emissions inventory), Reduction (reduction plan), Optimisation (offsetting residual emissions) and Transformation (involvement of third parties). The Spanish airports most active in sustainability are working towards achieving the Level 2+ or higher, This requires not only that the airport measures and reduces its direct emissions, but also that it involves ground handling companies, airlines and concessionaires in the process. This means that the Training for third-party operators forms part of the airport’s certification dossier. Other relevant standards include the ISO 14001 (environmental management), EMAS (the European equivalent with external verification) and the specific requirements of ICAO on noise and emissions management.
The environment: an unresolved issue in Spanish airport training
The state of sustainability training amongst ground staff at Spanish airports varies considerably. Large airports managed by AENA have more structured programmes; regional airports and independent ground handling operators, however, have a significant training gap. The areas where training is most lacking relate to Electrical GSE and high-voltage safety, calculation and interpretation of carbon footprint indicators, and ACA and CORSIA regulations applied to ground operations. The role most urgently in need of updating is that of operations coordinators, who are responsible for making operational decisions that have a direct impact on the airport’s sustainability metrics, as is also the case in the port terminal management, where the skills gap in coordination roles follows the same pattern.
How to structure a sustainability training programme for an airport
A sustainability training programme for airport teams is based on the diagnosis of gaps by role: which skills are required by the relevant regulations, which ones the team already possesses, and which ones need to be developed as a priority. The most effective combination is specific technical training for operational roles (electricity GSE, SAF protocols, waste management) and training in data and reporting for coordination and management roles. The e-learning format enables the theoretical and regulatory aspects to be covered without disrupting shifts, whilst on-the-job practical training is essential for operational safety skills. From the Educa.Pro’s Transport catalogue You will find specific programmes for airport equipment, with content updated in line with current regulations.
The decarbonisation of aviation is not a threat to ground staff: it is a transformation which, if managed effectively, will lead to better-qualified staff, more efficient operations and more competitive airports in the European market. Training is what turns regulation into an opportunity.
