ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON THE AVIATION AND SAFETY STRATEGIES IN THE EUROPEAN AIRPORTS

Scientific literature provides strong evidence of climate change and aviation’s contribution to global CO2 emissions. Systematic studies on the impact of climate on aviation safety remain limited. This thesis adopts the predictive safety paradigm of modern Safety Management Systems and assesses whether the European system is prepared for emerging climate-related risks. The research hypothesis is that the interaction between critical meteorological phenomena and operational practices and technological configurations generates systemic vulnerabilities, particularly during approach and landing. The study integrates four pillars: regulatory and literature review, meteorological data, European safety events, and qualitative investigation of operational and technological aspects. Results show that turbulence, reduced visibility, and wind-related phenomena significantly affect safety, without a direct linear correlation between frequency and number of incidents, suggesting risk arises from the interaction between exposure and operational vulnerabilities. The original contribution lies in demonstrating, with integrated data, that critical weaknesses emerge at the interface of human factors, procedures, and technological systems. Overall, the findings do not refute the hypothesis of emerging vulnerabilities and provide evidence of the mechanisms through which climate change may affect European airport safety, while acknowledging data limitations. The thesis identifies regulatory, infrastructural, training, and technological priorities to strengthen system resilience.