Aviation
VTI can contribute valuable knowledge on how the future air transport system can be integrated with the wider transport network.
The aviation transport system is facing major changes, both to reduce its climate footprint and to integrate new, more autonomous systems into the airspace.
How should the aviation system of the future be designed?
There is a strong need for evidence-based decision support, and it is important to view developments from a systems perspective. VTI can contribute significantly, as the institute has broad expertise in areas such as logistics, transport economics, environment, infrastructure, behavioural science, modelling and simulation at various system levels.
Since we conduct research across all modes of transport, we can also provide valuable insights into how future aviation systems can be connected to the wider transport system.
We can divide our aviation research projects into three categories linked to the Government’s transport policy objectives:
- Fossil-free and sustainable aviation
- Safe, resilient and efficient aviation
- Accessible aviation for the future
Fossil-free and sustainable aviation
The TEST project aims to enhance aviation sustainability by developing a framework that links Direct Operational Costs (DOC) to both CO₂ and non-CO₂ emissions. The project will support the assessment of sustainable aviation technologies by enabling a more comprehensive evaluation of their economic and environmental performance.
Funder: Vinnova, NFFP
Project partners: Saab, ITA, VTI, PACE, DLR, TU Braunschweig, and Linköping University.
Project period: 2026-2028
Contact at VTI: Harrison John Bhatti
The primary aim of this project is to estimate supply and demand functions for air travel. By combining data from multiple datasets, a panel dataset can be created containing information on, among other things, ticket prices, passenger flows and supply-side variables.
The project seeks to improve understanding of the future of Sweden’s aviation sector as the EU’s climate policy increases the cost of flying. The accelerated phase-out of emission allowances and stricter blending requirements for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) mean that fuel costs will have a much greater impact than before on how airlines allocate capacity and price seats across different routes.
Funder: The Swedish Transport Administration
Project period: 2024–2026
In this project, we will investigate the potential for reducing aviation emissions through the use of advanced air traffic management (ATM) and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in the short to medium term.
The potential will be analysed within the framework of existing legal, international and technical conditions. This includes assessing the scope for optimising flight routes under current ATM regulations, as well as the policy instruments designed to accelerate the transition to sustainable aviation fuels – primarily the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and ReFuelEU Aviation – and how these instruments interact.
Using a framework for calculating emissions across a range of flights with different fuel blends, we will establish a baseline of emissions based on current routes and fuel mixes. We will then compare this with emissions from optimised routes, routes using higher SAF blends, and the combined impact of both measures.
The overall objective of the project is to enable Swedish authorities and Nordic aviation stakeholders to assess the impact of ATM measures and different levels of SAF uptake in achieving the aviation sector’s climate goals, including Sweden’s target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The project will also identify how remaining gaps in existing policy instruments could be addressed.
Project partners: Linköping University (LiU), VTI
Funder: The Swedish Transport Administration
Project period: 2025–2028
This project maps the climate impact of air travel by Swedish passengers using booking data from IATA. Emissions models are developed based on historical flight and weather data. By comparing air travel with alternative modes of transport, the project analyses the potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The study also evaluates policy measures and develops a model for calculating annual emissions at route level.
Commissioned by: The Swedish Transport Administration
Contact: Chengxi Liu
This project investigates the climate and societal benefits of sustainable regional aviation in Northern Europe, including new route opportunities and competition with other modes of transport. Using future aviation technology scenarios, the project analyses passenger demand, business models and the need for policy measures.
The main focus is on domestic aviation in Sweden, with selected consideration of regional international services.
Project partners: VTI, Linköping University (IEI–Flumes)
Contact: Magnus Nylin
SEC LCAir: Assessment of environmental and resource impacts from rechargeable hybrid-electric aircraft intended for regional traffic in the period 2030–2060, when considering their full life cycle.
The project aims to use prospective life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental and resource impacts of hybrid-electric aircraft intended for regional aviation over the period 2030–2060. A further objective is to establish electric aviation as an active research area within the Swedish Electromobility Centre.
Contact at VTI: Professor Anders Nordelöf
Funders: Swedish Electromobility Centre and the Transport Area of Advance at Chalmers University of Technology
Project period: 2025–2026
The project aims to test a system demonstration of energy storage and electric charging at Skellefteå Airport. It builds on the FAACE project, which was completed earlier this year.
Contact at VTI: Senior researcher David Daniels
Funder: The Swedish Transport Administration
Project period: 2025–2028
Industrial demand in northern Sweden is growing in pace with the green transition, which requires new solutions for housing and transport. Aviation can quickly complement rail and road transport, particularly if it becomes fossil-free.
The project demonstrates how institutional barriers can be removed to enable fossil-free aviation as part of public transport systems and models an energy-efficient regional aviation network that supports the transition.
Read more about the NORRFLYG project here: NORRFLYG (Umeå University)
Project partners: Umeå University, VTI
Contact: Ida Kristoffersson
Safe, resilient and efficient aviation
This feasibility study explores how knowledge from research on intelligent transport systems (ITS) in road transport could be applied to airport ground traffic to reduce the risk of runway incursions.
Existing research on ITS solutions from the road sector is mapped to assess whether it can be used to increase awareness of vehicle movements on airport manoeuvring areas, thereby contributing to improved aviation safety. Autonomous ground vehicles may also be included in the study.
Contact at VTI: Researcher Magnus Nylin
Funder: The Swedish Transport Administration
Project period: 2025–2026
This project involves measuring the bearing capacity of runways using VTI’s heavy Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), in accordance with ICAO guidelines for classifying pavement strength (PCR, Pavement Classification Rating).
The measurements provide an assessment of the structural capacity of airport runways and support consistent classification of airfield pavement strength. These assessments are carried out on behalf of individual airports.
Contact at VTI: Laboratory Manager Håkan Carlsson.
The project explores how a national transport system based on electric drones can strengthen Sweden’s emergency preparedness, reduce emissions and support sustainable development.
Four sub-projects test drone services for goods delivery, surveillance and cybersecurity in different environments – from mountainous regions to archipelagos.
Read more about the project at brevduvor.se
Contact: Pia Krisitiansson
Accessible aviation for the future
This project builds knowledge to support the commercialisation of drone-based transport services in rural and remote areas.
The aim is to strengthen the conditions for accessible air transport solutions in sparsely populated regions, with a focus on enabling practical and scalable use cases for drone logistics.
Contact at VTI: Investigator Pia Kristiansson
Funder: The Swedish Energy Agency
Project period: 2025–2027
The EU project COLOSSUS aims to pave the way for future European aviation products and services.
The project supports the development of next-generation aviation solutions by strengthening research, innovation and collaboration across Europe’s aviation sector.
More information is available on the COLOSSUS project website: Colossus project website
Contact at VTI: Senior researcher Chengxi Liu.
Funder: European Commission
Project period: 2023–2026
This multimodal project (aviation, rail and to some extent maritime transport) focuses on shared situational awareness and improved coordination between air, rail and sea transport to facilitate multimodal travel.
By enabling information sharing and joint decision-making between aviation and rail operators, as well as developing integrated planning approaches and technical solutions, the project explores opportunities to improve the passenger experience.
The project is funded through EU-Rail and SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking (JU) and runs from 2023–2026.
Project lead at VTI: Peter Torstensson
Feel free to get in touch if you have questions, thoughts or suggestions for collaboration!
This page has been automatically translated using a machine translation tool. If you notice any incorrect wording or phrasing, please contact VTI’s Communications Unit.
In VTI DiVA-portal you will find our reports and scientific articles in the field of aviation. Abstracts are available in English.
Member of Innovair – Sweden's national strategic innovation program for aviation:
www.innovair.org
VTI participates in the reference group for the development of the next NRIA, Sweden's national strategic research and innovation agenda for aviation.