One year ago, ACI World launched the ESG Reporting Framework for Airports with an ambitious but practical goal: to provide airports with a voluntary, airport-specific tool that could help improve ESG tracking, reporting, and decision-making across the industry. Built around the principle of “no airport left behind,” the framework was designed to support airports regardless of size, geography, ownership structure, or reporting maturity.
Since then, airports around the world have begun applying the framework to their reporting processes. While every airport’s ESG journey is unique, early adopters are already demonstrating how the framework can help strengthen governance, improve collaboration, identify reporting gaps, and better understand the sustainability issues most relevant to their business.
The experiences of Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) and Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) provide two valuable examples.
What is the ACI World ESG Reporting Framework?
The ACI World ESG Reporting Framework is a voluntary, airport-specific reporting tool that helps airports of any size track and report environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance using a shared industry standard.
Developed specifically for airport operations, the framework includes more than 200 ESG metrics covering a broad range of environmental, social, and governance topics. It provides airports with a common structure for assessing performance, strengthening disclosures, and supporting sustainability-related decision-making, while recognizing differences in geography, ownership model, and reporting maturity.
Gatwick Airport Limited: building on an established reporting journey
For GAL, adopting the framework was a natural evolution rather than a starting point.
The airport had already developed a mature sustainability reporting approach through its Decade of Change sustainability policy and annual Sustainability Report. When the ACI World ESG Reporting Framework was introduced, Gatwick Airport saw it as an opportunity to align its reporting with a globally recognized industry standard while contributing to greater consistency across the airport sector.
One of the biggest lessons from implementation was the level of collaboration required across the business. With more than 200 metrics covering a wide range of ESG topics, the framework required engagement from teams well beyond sustainability, including colleagues focused on delivering safe and efficient airport operations. The framework reinforced the importance of strong internal collaboration.
The process also highlighted some of the practical challenges airports face as reporting expectations continue to evolve.
Gatwick Airport pointed to questions around the interpretation of certain disclosures, particularly emissions intensity metrics. While the airport already publishes a comprehensive annual carbon footprint, some framework disclosures require information to be reported in a different format. As more airports adopt the framework, achieving greater consistency in interpretation will be important for improving comparability across the industry.
Perhaps most importantly, Gatwick Airport found that “the greatest value of the framework is its ability to identify opportunities for action.” The framework not only highlighted reporting gaps but also provided insight into areas of focus, data needs, and future priorities that can help inform the airport’s future sustainability plans.
BLR Airport: using the framework to strengthen ESG integration
For Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport), the framework provided an opportunity to bring together a broad range of ESG initiatives under a single airport-specific structure.
The airport views sustainability as an integral part of its long-term growth and value creation strategy. Its decision to adopt the ACI World framework was driven by the need for a globally relevant, airport-specific approach that could strengthen sustainability disclosures while reflecting the unique realities of the aviation sector.
One of the key benefits of implementation was the framework’s ability to complement existing reporting approaches. Rather than replacing established frameworks, it helped connect airport-specific issues with broader international reporting expectations while providing greater clarity on material ESG topics and opportunities to strengthen performance tracking.
At the same time, BLR Airport acknowledged a challenge many airports face: the ESG reporting landscape continues to evolve rapidly, and implementing every aspect of a comprehensive framework takes time.
The airport has therefore adopted a phased approach, focusing on building capability and strengthening reporting systems over time. Early stakeholder engagement, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and strong governance structures were all identified as important factors in successful implementation.
Importantly, BLR Airport encourages airports to look beyond disclosure requirements alone. In its experience, the framework is most valuable when used as a management tool that supports organizational alignment, informed decision-making, and continuous improvement across the business.
Comparing the two approaches
| Aspect | Gatwick Airport (GAL) | BLR Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Mature sustainability programme through the Decade of Change policy and annual Sustainability Report | Multiple ESG initiatives already underway, but not unified within a single airport-specific framework |
| Primary use of framework | Align reporting with a global industry standard and identify reporting gaps | Consolidate ESG efforts and strengthen ESG integration |
| Biggest challenge | Interpreting certain disclosures, particularly emissions intensity metrics | Balancing framework implementation with rapidly evolving reporting requirements |
| Approach | Build on existing reporting practices and identify opportunities for improvement | Phase implementation over time while strengthening internal capability |
| Reported outcome | Greater insight into future priorities, data needs, and sustainability planning | Stronger governance, improved organizational alignment, and enhanced decision-making |
What these experiences have in common
Although the two airports approached implementation from different starting points, several common themes emerged.
Strong internal collaboration is essential. Whether the objective is to integrate more than 200 ESG metrics across a business or strengthen governance and accountability structures, ESG reporting cannot sit within one department alone. It requires engagement from across the organization.
The framework is more than a disclosure tool. In different ways, each airport described how the framework helped identify priorities, strengthen internal processes, and support future planning.
A practical, phased approach delivers results. Gatwick Airport’s advice is to start with the information already being reported, identify gaps, and focus on material issues. BLR Airport similarly recommends starting with available data and progressively strengthening systems and disclosures over time.
Where their experiences differ
The differences are equally illuminating.
Gatwick Airport’s experience reflects the perspective of an airport with an established reporting programme that used the framework to drive greater consistency, identify reporting gaps, and gain new insights.
BLR Airport’s experience reflects an airport using the framework as a means to consolidate ESG efforts, strengthen governance, complement existing ESG disclosures, and further integrate sustainability into business strategy and risk management.
Together, these experiences demonstrate the flexibility of the framework and its ability to deliver value across different organizational contexts.
Looking ahead
The experiences of Gatwick Airport Limited and BLR Airport demonstrate that there is no single pathway to successful implementation. What matters most is that airports use the framework in a way that reflects their own priorities, strengthens internal decision-making, and helps them better understand the impacts, risks, and opportunities most relevant to their business.
As adoption continues to grow, the shared experiences of airports will help build greater consistency, improve comparability, and deepen understanding of ESG issues across the global airport sector. One year in, early adopters of the ACI World ESG Reporting Framework are already showing that effective ESG reporting is not just about disclosure. It is about building stronger, more resilient airports for the future.
Need support implementing the Framework?
ACI World maintains a database of ESG reporting experts who can support airports in implementing the Framework, strengthening ESG disclosures, and advancing sustainability reporting practices.
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