Mobility Impact Report: Aerospace Edition, Q1 2025

Workforce Shortages and Supply Chain Fragmentation Reshape Aviation Sustainability Priorities

This comprehensive analysis examines how the aerospace industry faces significant labour shortage challenges, with more than 600,000 pilots and technicians and 900,000 cabin crew members required to meet accelerating demand. This research reveals that 60% of ground handlers report insufficient workforce to carry out operations smoothly, resulting in flight delays, cancellations, reputational damage and compensation costs. These operational disruptions represent both financial materiality considerations, through direct revenue impacts, and materiality dimensions, including passenger experience and industry reputation.

The report additionally highlights how trade restrictions have disrupted sustainability initiatives for 58% of manufacturers.

The report examines the critical sustainability challenges identified in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Aviation Sustainability Outlook 2025, highlighting that the availability and cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) remain the primary obstacles to decarbonisation. Leading companies are implementing innovative approaches, including strategic partnerships with hydrogen-electric technology providers, as exemplified by American Airlines' collaboration with ZeroAvia to advance alternative propulsion systems throughout the aerospace value chain.

This analysis reveals significant regulatory developments reshaping the industry landscape, including the implementation of ICAO's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). This evolving framework presents both compliance challenges and strategic opportunities, necessitating robust materiality assessment processes that account for varying regional policies and the potential inclusion of non-CO2 emissions in future reporting requirements under frameworks such as the CSRD.

The report examines how infrastructure adaptation is crucial for future-proofing aviation operations, with examples such as Lufthansa Technik's Hydrogen Aviation Lab, which pioneers testing environments for hydrogen technologies in aircraft maintenance and ground operations. These innovations necessitate significant capital allocation decisions, potentially creating new competitive advantages for early adopters who implement comprehensive ESG strategies.

Looking toward workforce development priorities, the report identifies how leading aerospace companies are establishing training academies, recruitment programmes and strategic partnerships with educational institutions to address critical skills gaps. These initiatives represent growing industry recognition of human capital as a material sustainability consideration, necessitating sophisticated approaches to talent attraction, development, and retention across complex global aerospace operations.