Towards a greener, sustainable and resilient aviation
The 28th ATRS World Conference was successfully organized by the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering (AAE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) during 1 – 4 July 2025. This event aimed to advance air transport research and education, addressing the increasing demand for a skilled workforce in the aviation and aerospace industry across Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and the Asia-Pacific region.
The conference attracted more than 400 participants from various countries and regions—including but not limited to Australia, Canada, South Korea, the United States, and several European nations—this gathering showcased a rich mix of perspectives and expertise, highlighting the commitment to fostering collaboration among industry professionals.
Global researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts participated in the conference to exchange knowledge, insights, and innovative ideas. Experts and industrial leaders came together to address rising demands, intense competition, and new safety concerns in air transportation and future air mobility.
Key activities included an online plenary session, keynote speeches from notable industry leaders, and specialized sessions on air cargo operations, aviation forecasting, and sustainable practices. The conference featured several key themes that addressed pressing issues in the aviation industry:
- Sustainable Aviation: Discussions addressed the urgent need for sustainable practices in aviation, with insights on the development and implementation of sustainable aviation fuels.
- Air Cargo and Global Trade: The plenary session on "Air Cargo in a Multi-Polar World" explored the evolving dynamics of global trade and the critical role of air cargo in logistics, focusing on how geopolitical shifts influence air cargo strategies.
- Regional Policies and Infrastructure: A special session highlighted the unique challenges and investment frameworks specific to the Middle East.
- Innovations in Airlines and Airport Operations: Academic sessions focused on advancements in aviation technology, including demand modeling and forecasting practices, showcasing innovative approaches to optimize air travel and enhance operational efficiency.
This event served as a vital platform for networking and collaboration, reinforcing ATRS's mission to support innovative research and foster multi-national partnerships in the air transport sector.
More about Air Transport Research Society (ATRS)
The Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) was launched as a special interest group of the World Conference on Transport Research Society (WCTR) during the 7th Triennial WCTR Conference at Sydney in 1995.
The objectives of the society are as follows:
- To help organize and expand the air transport related sessions at the WCTR Conferences; to attract more people from airlines, airports, governments, research institutes and academia to the WCTR Society and its activities;
- To exchange research ideas and results via more frequent symposia, conferences or regional meetings than the WCTR Conference can provide via its main conferences every three years;
- To enhance research capability for truly multi-national and multi-disciplinary issues on air transportation. For example, good research on the globalization of airline industry requires expertise in various disciplines (economics, engineering, law, management, operations, planning and others) as well as good knowledge of the international, regional, and national institutions and regulations related to air transportation;
- To interact with various international and national institutions which deal with policy and/or infrastructure issues concerning international aviation. Examples include the International Air Transport Association, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the World Trade Organization, the European Commission, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, etc.
- To eventually provide forums to facilitate the exchange of ideas for forming multi-national and/ or multi- disciplinary research teams to investigate topics of world- wide or continental interest.
