Navigating the Storm

For L.F. Wade International Airport , the stakes are doubly high. Not only do they have a vested interest in mitigating their own environmental footprint, but located in the middle of ‘Hurricane Alley’, they also stand on the front lines of climate change's most immediate threats. Jason Inniss, Director of Airport Operations, shared the impacts felt by this sea-level, island airport and how they are responding to more frequent extreme weather events.

Bermuda L.F. Wade International Airport.

“Anyone living on Bermuda in September 2023 will remember the Major Category 4 Hurricane Fabian. It devastated the island and its residents, and the airport was no different. The ocean flooded into the terminal; the check-in area was inundated with seawater.”

For airports like L.F. Wade International, higher sea and air temperatures in general fuel storms like this. They are more frequent, more intense and the season is longer. This is the kind of threat that motivates an airport to ensure that despite living with this new norm, both resilience and sustainability are built into their long-term strategies.

Damage at the airport caused by Hurricane Fabian (from Wikipedia).

With this in mind, Jason described L.F. Wade’s newest terminal building, opened in December 2020: “It was designed to minimise the impact of storm surges and heighten our resilience, and to do this, it is now situated higher than sea level.” Since being built, this new terminal has been put to the test a number of times by tropical storms and aforementioned Hurricane Fabian, but the airport knows that bigger and stronger storms are undoubtedly on the horizon.

“It’s a continuous process where you're constantly addressing these issues and looking at how you can improve. We can’t just build the new terminal, and then relax and say, well, I've done it. There is more technology out there that that will assist, there are more improvements that can be made.”

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In addition to building its resilience, the airport is also making waves to become more sustainable by reducing energy consumption. The new terminal, despite being larger than the old, easily manages increasing numbers of passengers, but the new technology being used means it is 50% more efficient than the old building and overall provides a much more pleasant passenger experience. “It is a good example of resilience and sustainability wrapped into one. It is a better passenger experience, helps the environment and reduces our emissions.”

The new building is 50% more energy efficient.

The new building is a good example of resilience and sustainability wrapped into one. It is a better passenger experience, helps the environment and reduces our emissions.

Industry bodies supporting the net-zero 2050 targets through Carbon Accreditation schemes are providing milestones for airports, encouraging the transition to more sustainable operating models. L.F. Wade’s operator, Skyport, is part of this drive and has recently achieved Level 1 of ACI’s Carbon Accreditation scheme which sets out their Policy Statement on Environmental Sustainability.

They are now in the process of attaining Level 2 which entails development of a carbon management plan, mapping and quantifying their emission sources and volumes, signifying their initial steps towards reducing their carbon footprint.

The airport has achieved level 1 and is working on 2.

This established baseline enables airports to track progress towards reducing emissions; initiatives such as changes to terminal buildings, technology to improve the efficiency of arrivals and departures, electrifying airside operations and adjustments to taxiways are just some of the ways airports are making progress.

Jason said, “Airports themselves are becoming incredibly efficient, decreasing their emissions and also contributing to local initiatives that support their surrounding environment.”

Working in partnership with their local government, L.F. Wade has provided the land for an island changing 6MW solar farm. The farm provides energy not only to the airport, but to the whole of Bermuda, which has joined the ranks of other small island countries that are ditching fossil fuels.

The solar farm at the airport.

It is an impressive example of airports working in sync with government towards achieving more sustainable outcomes. It is not the only green initiative backed by the airport, they are also investing in a solar car park with an ambition to generate enough solar electricity to offset some of the costs of the new terminal building. “Airports should eventually be able to produce 100% green energy for their operations. I can see many airports, large and small, getting to this point. Perhaps the smaller ones will be the first movers.”

Airports should eventually be able to produce 100% green energy for their operations. I can see many airports, large and small, getting to this point. Perhaps the smaller ones will be the first movers.

For L.F. Wade, and operator Skyport, it’s not just about big, expensive investment initiatives and international routes, but also working collaboratively with local communities. Through their long-standing partnership with Ocean Academy at BIOS (Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences) in which local students gain hands-on experience in marine science, climate research, and sustainability initiatives, they are empowering the next generation to tackle climate challenges. And earlier this year, the airport planted 100 cedar trees, donated by an airport partner, to create a space that both locals and visitors would be able to enjoy and where they can thrive for years to come.

“The cedars, which are endemic to this area, are a visual gesture that deeply aligns with our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The trees are a daily reminder that the airport has a very real stake in looking after the environment.”

Planting Cedar trees with the local community.

Yet, it is impossible to get away from the fact that airports are the habitat for some of the world’s most carbon hungry vehicles and something that Jason is acutely aware of. Just as L.F. Wade has managed to decarbonise while embracing their new, larger terminal footprint, there is a parallel with aircraft.

He states, “If airlines want to increase services to Bermuda, we want to point them in the direction of adding capacity by using a larger aircraft rather than adding another flight. We want them using more efficient, modern airplanes rather than older less efficient models.  L.F. Wade is a slot constrained airport, only operating between 7am and 4pm, and 60% of flights are small aircraft. We have limited capacity for more flights, but we do have capacity for larger aircraft which is more sustainable.”

Aircraft at LF Wade International Airport.

Sustainable aviation fuel is often mentioned as the panacea to aviation achieving net-zero 2050. Recently, we have seen Boeing invest heavily in SAF, acquiring the UK-based producer Firefly, Emirates conducting SAF demonstration flights and BA and KLM on course for demos in 2026. But supply is still a challenge.

“SAF may be on the horizon, so airports need to be ready to facilitate this and we also need to consider how hydrogen fits into this picture. Unfortunately, these fuels are unlikely to be available in places like Bermuda anytime soon.”

Resilience is not new to an airport’s strategic planning process, but the factors under consideration are widening as is the imperative to incorporate it alongside sustainability. IATA reports that weather delay as a proportion of total delay increased from around 11% in 2012 to almost 30% in 2021.

Changing weather patterns – evidenced this year by flooding in Spain and Mumbai, fires in Greece and extreme temperatures across continents means that, like L.F. Wade, increasing numbers of airports will be experiencing the direct impact of climate change on their operations.

“Emissions from aviation account for 2.5% of global emissions. Airports themselves are just a fraction of that percent and we are continually improving. For our passengers, our focus really needs to be on resilience.”

In the face of escalating climate challenges, airports like L.F. Wade International are not just adapting—they're integrating resilience and sustainability into their core strategies. As Jason Inniss aptly puts it, "It's a continuous process of improvement and innovation."

Emissions from aviation account for 2.5% of global emissions. Airports themselves are just a fraction of that percent and we are continually improving. For our passengers, our focus really needs to be on resilience.

With every storm weathered and every green initiative launched, these airports are proving that the path to a sustainable future is not just necessary, but achievable. The journey is ongoing, but the commitment to a resilient and sustainable aviation sector is clear and unwavering.

References

1. International Air Transport Association, Weather-related operational disruptions are rising - Air Passenger Market Analysis.
2. Graver, Brandon, Rutherford, Dan and Zheng, Sola. CO2 emissions from commercial aviation: 2013, 2018, and 2019