Examining the Evolution of Air Traffic Research from 2000-2023: A Bibliometric Perspective

We have synthesized the latest developments over the past two decades using a bibliometric approach, drawing data from the Web of Science Core Collection database from January 2000 to May 2023. Both VOSviewer and CiteSpace were employed to examine journals, authors, institutions, and countries' contributions. We also identified collaboration networks, research hotspots, and theme evolutions. A total of 4,432 articles were included in this study, revealing a marked increase in global research publications. The United States, China, and the United Kingdom lead in terms of research output. The Journal of Air Transport Management had the highest publication count. Key contributing institutions include MIT, NASA, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Delft University of Technology. Moreover, 14 clusters were formed, highlighting four major research themes: Aircraft Sequencing, Urban Air Mobility, Aircraft Trajectory Prediction, and Air Traffic Control System. These insights offer a comprehensive understanding of research directions and provide invaluable guidance for future air traffic research.