European Transport Research Articles

A literature review on the applications of artificial intelligence to European rail transport safety

A literature review on the applications of artificial intelligence to European rail transport safety

Oновлення парку рухомого складу українських залізниць з орієнтацією на інтеграцію в європейські транспортні мережі

The strategic aim of further development of the Ukrainian railways is rolling stock and infrastructure renewal to meet the demands of the Ukrainian economy, including a rapid integration into the European transport service. The paper presents the results of recent studies conducted at the Department of Statistical Dynamics and Multidimensional Mechanical System Dynamics, the Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, with the aim to solve important problems in the development of the Ukrainian railway transport. The studies were aimed at developing scientifically substantiated decisions on Ukrainian rolling stock renewal oriented at integration into the European railway networks. To do this, a cycle of theoretical and experimental studies was conducted at the department. Consideration was given to the problem of wheel–rail contact pair improvement by identifying a wheel profile that would offer an acceptable car ride performance and acceptable conditions of car–rail interaction both on the Ukrainian and the European railways and reduce vehicle and rail wear. The car ride performance of an articulated passenger train was simulated mathematically for its motion at different speeds along a track of arbitrary alignment and profile, and the effect of different car and track parameters on the ride performance was estimated. Energy-absorbing devices were developed to increase the passive safety of a speedy locomotive-hauled passenger train and a multiple-unit train in emergency collisions with obstacles according to the Ukrainian Standard DSTU EN 15227. Service loads on the load-bearing components of swap-body freight cars were estimated, and recommendations were developed on fasteners that would provide safe transportation of various freights in swap-body cars. Based on the results of the studies, a number of design solutions were proposed for Ukrainian railway vehicle components. Their implementation will offer a sizeable economic benefit, increase the train speed and safety, improve the vehicle–track interaction, and facilitate the formation of an up-to-date home railway complex and its integration into the European railway networks.

Porte-chaises and Gazebos in the Traditions of European Horse-Drawn Transport of the Baroque Era

The aim of the article is to determine the constructive, compositional and artistic features of porte-chaises and gazebos in the European proto-design of the Baroque era. Results. It has been found that among the horse-drawn transport of the Baroque period in European proto-design, a special place was occupied by carriage carriers, which were carried by special porters, following the example of ancient oriental prototypes. The author reveals that this tradition was initiated under the influence of interaction with the Indian Raj and other representatives of the Eastern establishment and developed among the high society circles of nobility in England, Spain, Italy, and France as a reflection on colonial ambitions in society. The scientific novelty of the study is related to the analysis of constructive, compositional and artistic features of gazebos and porte-chaises in the European tradition of horse-drawn transport of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries on the example of monuments that have been preserved or recorded by artists. Conclusions. It has been proved that the production of baroque portable carriages such as porte-chaises and gazebos was carried out by individual specialists-woodcarvers. They knew how to combine metal and wooden structures of the product’s frame, as well as how to design the “salon-cabin” using different types of leather and drapery fabrics. The ways of external decoration of such objects with a representative heraldic coat of arms compositions, bouquets of flowers, and plot motifs are outlined. The article illustrates the varieties of porte-chaises, gazebos, sedan chairs, palanquins, and sigettes (sigetter, “vastasi di cinga”) typical of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in the works of European painters.

Environmental resilience of the largest European public transport providers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The environmental commitment of public transport authorities plays a role in addressing the challenges ahead. After the COVID-19 pandemic, we can analyze the strength of green commitments during that turbulent time. Green public procurement (GPP) is a government tool dedicated to mitigating the environmental impact of public acquisitions. These actions can be monitored as an indicator that captures efforts for green actions by organizations. GPP adoption rates among public transport suppliers are comparable across countries because they operate in the same sector and share characteristics that facilitate comparison. In this study, the largest public transport suppliers in 38 European cities are compared from 2010 to 2023. A subsample of 13,280 contract notices was employed for the public transport sector from the Tender Electronic Database and GPP adoption was found to be higher on bus vehicle acquisitions than on tramway/metro vehicle acquisitions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a marked GPP fall. These findings also indicate that while GPP adoption rates are higher among the 38 large public transport suppliers compared with medium and lower ones, the largest ones are not the front-runners in terms of GPP adoption. Our results suggest that environmental priorities are not as significant as one might expect.

MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT POLICY REGARDING THE USE OF LOW- AND ZERO-EMISSION FLEET ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE GÓRNOŚLĄSKA-ZAGŁĘBIOWSKA METROPOLIS (POLAND)

Nowadays, the majority of society decides to use individual transport for everyday travel, which negatively affects the congestion of cities. Nevertheless, in the transport policy of the European Union, public transport is becoming more and more important, which is reflected in strategic documents in the field of sustainable transport development. The effect of this action is to increase the attractiveness of public collective transport, which will also translate into a reduction in pollutant emissions. This article aims to verify the implementation of the European Union's sustainable transport development policy concerning the use of low- and zero-emission rolling stock in the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis. As part of the work, the strategic documents of the European Union in the field of sustainable development of transport were analysed. In addition, the idea of establishing the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis in the context of the policy of sustainable transport development was introduced and the public transport system functioning in the area of the Metropolis GZM was characterized.

MODELLING GROWTH STRATEGIES OF TRANSPORT ENTERPRISES IN THE CONDITIONS OF CONTEXT UNCERTAINTY

Modern military conditions and tasks of post-war reconstruction require the development of effective strategies for the activity of transport enterprises of Ukraine to ensure the continuity of supplies of military and humanitarian goods. The purpose of the research was to create a model for the selection of optimal strategies for the development of transport enterprises of Ukraine in the conditions of uncertainty caused by the simultaneous influence of military aggression and the deepening of transport integration of Ukraine with the EU. The Saaty's method was selected for the study, which is based on the construction of fuzzy functions and is the most relevant in the context of the influence of a significant number of unstable exogenous and endogenous factors on the functioning of enterprises. In consideration of the evolving landscape of transportation in the European Union and Ukraine, the authors have distilled the overarching objectives of sustainable transportation development (economic, social, and environmental) into eighteen sub-objectives pertaining to the advancement of enterprises. These objectives are then subjected to expert evaluation. The article presents the findings of this expert ranking exercise, delineating the priorities for transportation enterprises in Ukraine across two distinct periods: the current state of martial law and the subsequent phase of post-war reconstruction. The authors have built a model for selecting optimal strategies for the development of a transport enterprise on the basis of a multi-level hierarchy of priority growth goals in two periods. As strategic alternatives, the authors have chosen the "strategy of limited growth"; "strategy of concentrated growth"; "strategy of diversified growth"; "strategy of integrated growth"; and "combined strategy". The paper determines that the appropriate growth strategies for transport enterprises during the period of martial law would be: a strategy of limited growth (rank 1.827) and a combined strategy (rank 2.0980). In the period of post-war reconstruction, the following growth strategies will be appropriate for implementation: concentrated growth (rank 3.0151) and integrated growth (rank 2.6783). The publication proposes a set of possible options for practical management actions in various functional areas of the transport enterprise (financial, organisational, marketing, social, technological, environmental) in accordance with the defined development strategies under martial law and post-war reconstruction. The practical application of the methodological approach to strategic management of transport enterprises in the context of economic uncertainty developed in the article will help to preserve domestic transport companies in the conditions of war and increase their competitiveness in the post-war period. The comprehensive implementation of the identified strategies will contribute to the development of innovative technologies, as well as European social and environmental transport standards in Ukraine.

Cross-National Strategic Aeromedical Evacuation at the European Air Transport Command.

INTRODUCTION: The European Air Transport Command (EATC) is a seven-nation integrated command. One of its core capabilities is strategic aeromedical evacuation (AE). During the global COVID-19 pandemic and Ukrainian crisis, EATC proved that acting in concert is a valuable, effective, and reliable option.METHODS: By pooling and sharing aircraft and personnel, EATC has privileged access to a diverse fleet and pool of experts. Cooperation is based on a common set of rules and regulations, which ensures that EATC can address any problem with expertise.RESULTS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, 1060 COVID-19-positive patients were transported in 198 missions, with neither death nor disease transmission reported during those strategic AE flights. EATC transferred 986 military cases, mostly routine priority (91.4%); the other 74 cases were civilians, who were transported in 17 missions, with 81.1% categorized as urgent. During the Ukrainian crisis, 251 patients were transported, 112 military and 139 civilians, including 30 children. Among the recorded injuries were cerebrocranial, abdominal, and chest injuries, as well as fractures (180) and amputations (48) of the extremities.DISCUSSION: EATC is recognized as a center of expertise within the AE community, where interoperability and harmonization of concepts are key to safety and success. Cross-national missions, where a patient is evacuated by an aircraft and medical crew provided by another nation, offer maximum flexibility. Complex situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis, have shown that multinational cooperation is not only achievable but also provides robust, effective, and reliable solutions for AE in particular.Fiorini A, Vermeltfoort R, Dulaurent E, Hove MG, Borsch M. Cross-national strategic aeromedical evacuation at the European Air Transport Command. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(9):709-715.

Transport of Patients With High-Consequence Infectious Diseases: Development of European Capacity in Norway.

Infection of Western aid workers with Ebola virus disease during the 2014-2016 West African outbreak demonstrated the need for medical evacuation to high-level isolation units in Europe and the United States. In Norway, an ad hoc preparedness team was established for aeromedical evacuation in case of need. In October 2014, this team transported an infected aid worker from the military section of Oslo Airport to Oslo University Hospital. To maintain and strengthen the capacity for domestic ambulance transport on the ground and in the air, the Norwegian Medical Emergency Response Team for High Consequence Infectious Diseases (in Norway known as "Nasjonalt medisinsk utrykningsteam for høyrisikosmitte"), or NORTH, was established as a permanent service in 2017. Recognizing the expertise of this domestic team, Norway was subsequently entrusted with the task of enhancing the European aeromedical transport capacity for high-consequence infectious diseases and establishing the Norwegian rescEU Jet Air Ambulance for Transport of Highly Infectious Patients, or NOJAHIP, in 2022. In this case study, we present experiences and lessons learned from these 2 services and discuss how they can be further developed.

Towards greener city logistics: an application of agile routing algorithms to optimize the distribution of micro-hubs in Barcelona

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards online shopping, reshaping consumer habits and intensifying the impact on urban freight distribution. This disruption exacerbated traffic congestion and parking shortages in cities, underscoring the need for sustainable distribution models. The European Union's common transport policy advocates for innovative UFD approaches that promote intermodal transportation, reduce traffic, and optimize cargo loads. Our study addresses these challenges by proposing an agile routing algorithm for an alternative UFD model in Barcelona. This model suggests strategically located micro-hubs selected from a set of railway facilities, markets, shopping centers, district buildings, pickup points, post offices, and parking lots (1057 points in total). It also promotes intermodality through cargo bikes and electric vans. The study has two main objectives: (i) to identify a network of intermodal micro-hubs for the efficient delivery of parcels in Barcelona and (ii) to develop an agile routing algorithm to optimize their location. The algorithm generates adaptive distribution plans considering micro-hub operating costs and vehicle routing costs, and using heuristic and machine learning methods enhanced by parallelization techniques. It swiftly produces high-quality routing plans based on transportation infrastructure, transportation modes, and delivery locations. The algorithm adapts dynamically and employs multi-objective techniques to establish the Pareto frontier for each plan. Real-world testing in Barcelona, using actual data has shown promising results, providing potential scenarios to reduce CO2 emissions and improve delivery times. As such, this research offers an innovative and sustainable approach to UFD, that will contribute significantly to a greener future for cities.

Collapse analysis of a masonry arch bridge using the applied element method

Masonry arch bridges constitute a fundamental part of the European transport network. Given their historical relevance and ongoing functional role, often under significantly higher load conditions than originally designed for, a reliable assessment of their load-bearing capacity is essential to understand whether they can guarantee adequate structural performance. To address this need, research efforts have focused on the development of computational methods capable of providing realistic simulations of the structural and collapse behavior of this kind of structures. In this context, the present paper aims to evaluate the application of the recently developed Applied Element Method (AEM) to masonry arch bridges, using the well-known Prestwood bridge (Staffordshire, UK) as a benchmark case study. The bridge was modeled using AEM and loaded until collapse simulating the actual conditions of the in situ test carried out in 1986. Results show consistency, in terms of bearing capacity and collapse mechanism, with the experimental data and previous studies that used other numerical approaches, proving the ability of the Applied Element Method to provide an accurate estimate of the collapse behavior of this kind of structures. AEM’s ability to represent collapse mechanisms involving large displacements, at a reduced computational cost, is especially useful for the design of alert and monitoring systems for structures in a damaged or pre-collapse state.

Visual analysis of changes in European air transport during the COVID-19 pandemic from interactive maps

Abstract The paper explores the substantial decline in European air transport during 2020, while employing interactive maps for visual analysis. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (2020) economic analysis, there was a sharp 60% global reduction in passenger traffic during the combined second, third, and fourth quarters, equivalent to about 2.7 billion fewer passengers than in 2019. The established air traffic flow, which developed over decades, faced partial disruption due to COVID-19 restrictions. Consequently, the aviation industry strategically focused on restructuring to ensure the sustained operation of major air transport routes. Using OpenSky Network data and a Google Sheets environment for storage, our study utilizes the FlowmapBlue interactive platform to visualize the 2020 European airspace, and to define key air traffic corridors. Despite the substantial decline, the visualization reveals resilient routes and crucial connections, underscoring the imperative of preserving these links for effective crisis response in the future.

The Role of EU Transport Market Liberalization in Shaping Directions of Rail Energy Consumption Rationalization in Relation to the Export of Goods: The Case of Poland

This article discusses the impact of rail market liberalization on the energy intensity of rail in relation to the export of goods, as well as the identification of multidimensional cause-and-effect relationships between rail energy intensity and the importing country’s economic condition, transport performance, and transport distance. Three research questions were formulated: (1) Does the liberalization of the EU transport market and the implementation of a sustainable transport policy contribute to minimizing the energy consumption of rail transport? (2) Does the pursuit of economic growth allow for reducing the energy intensity of goods exported by rail transport in global trade? (3) Is there a justified paradigm for shifting long-distance freight transport from roads to rail? This study concerned 21 directions of the export of goods transported by rail from Poland to partner countries (worldwide) in 2010–2020. A panel model of rail transport energy consumption with random effects was constructed. As a result of rail market liberalization, the export of goods transported by rail across great distances occurs without harming economic development and leads to a reduction in energy intensity. On this basis, key strategies were formulated to promote rail transport in reducing the energy intensity of the transport sector. The authors filled the research gap by identifying the relationship between the energy intensity of exports of goods by rail transport in value terms, depending on the European transport market’s liberalization process, the importing countries’ economic situation, transport volume, and distance. The presented approach is innovative and can be adapted to the analysis of other modes of transport, including road transport, and other countries (and their structure and export directions).

How to apply the four-step model for 150,000 travel zones: The HIPAT model

Current European transport demand models following the classical four-step approach are less suitable for analysing the traffic volumes on inter-regional road infrastructure with relevant demand of regional trips, as they consider only about 10% of the trip demand with passenger cars. Mainly due to runtime problems, these models are limited to operation at the NUTS-3 level. This level comprises around 1500 regions for Europe with an average diameter of about 50km. However, more than 90% of the trips are shorter than 50km and are, therefore, not adequately considered in the trip distribution model and the trip matrix. Computing this matrix at a higher spatial resolution, such as the LAU-2 level, is not possible as the runtime of the overall model and the size of the trip matrix increase quadratically with the number of travel zones. In the HIPAT model, this obstacle is overcome by an innovative concept operating at different hierarchical levels. This reduces the complexity of the trip matrix, such that the HIPAT model can be applied at large scale for 150,000 travel zones without any runtime problems. This is demonstrated by a prototype implementation for a case study that handles 33,000 travel zones in two minutes. In addition, the limitations of applying NUTS-3-based travel zones for transport modelling are shown: 94.6% of the trips are shorter than the average diameter of the travel zones (50km) and are therefore not correctly represented by the model. Smaller travel zones decrease this number and provide a better basis for analysing infrastructure policies and, ultimately, for decision-making.

The European Union's Global Goods Transport and Trade Relations and their Implications

The European Union's Global Goods Transport and Trade Relations and their Implications

The OPEVA Manifest: OPtimisation of Electrical Vehicle Autonomy, a Research and Innovation project

Electromobility is a critical component of Europe’s strategy to create a more sustainable society and support the European Green Transition while enhancing quality of life. Electrification also plays an important role in securing Europe’s position in the growing market of electric and autonomous vehicles (EAV). The EU-funded OPEVA project aims to take a big step towards deployment of sustainable electric vehicles by means of optimising their support in an ecosystem. Specifically, the project focuses on analysing and designing optimisation architecture, reducing battery charging time, and developing infrastructure, as well as reporting on the driver-oriented human factors. Overall, OPEVA’s goal is to enhance EAV market penetration and adoption, making them more accessible and convenient. The aim of this paper is to inform the European automotive, transportation, energy and mobility community be presenting the OPEVA manifestation, and the overall solution strategy solidified through the progress throughout the first year of the project.

Detection of alpha heating in JET-ILW DT plasmas by a study of the electron temperature response to ICRH modulation

In the JET DTE2 campaign a new method was successfully tested to detect the heating of bulk electrons by α-particles, using the dynamic response of the electron temperature T e to the modulation of ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH). A fundamental deuterium (D) ICRH scheme was applied to a tritium-rich hybrid plasma with D-neutral beam injection (NBI). The modulation of the ion temperature T i and of the ICRH accelerated deuterons leads to modulated α-heating with a large delay with respect to other modulated electron heating terms. A significant phase delay of ∼40° is measured between central T e and T i, which can only be explained by α-particle heating. Integrated modelling using different models for ICRH absorption and ICRH/NBI interaction reproduces the effect qualitatively. Best agreement with experiment is obtained with the European Transport Solver/Heating and Current Drive workflow.

Corrosion-induced fragility of existing prestressed concrete girder bridges under traffic loads

Italian and European transportation networks include a significant number of existing bridges, built since the early ‘60s, characterised by simply supported prestressed concrete (PC) girders with post-tensioned steel tendons. Corrosion of tendons, which may lead to significant loss of structural capacity, cannot be detected by simple visual inspections and requires advanced and expensive testing by bridge owners. Therefore, procedures aimed at risk-informed prioritisation of advanced inspections and possibly retrofit are needed. The paper presents a study on the fragility of existing PC girder bridges considering traffic loads, accounting for corrosion-induced effects. An automated framework is proposed, aiming at the efficient probabilistic structural assessment of the investigated bridge typology accounting for different critical corrosion scenarios and the influence of knowledge-based uncertainty related to geometric and mechanical properties. To simulate corrosion effects, prestressing steel tendon geometric and mechanical characteristics are modified through a specific algorithm able to estimate variations in flexural and shear bearing capacity of critical cross-sections. To simulate the traffic loads, a simplified analysis is performed by using code-based traffic load models. In the paper, the framework is tested with reference to a dataset of case-study superstructures. The obtained fragility curves are deeply discussed, highlighting the effects of the number of girders and span length on the corrosion-induced increase in fragility. Although the proposed methodology presents some simplifications, it could improve the current practices of risk prioritisation, by supporting transportation authorities in ensuring the safety of the existing bridge stock.

The usage of genetic algorithms when planning railway transportation in international connection

The railway transport system in Ukraine stands as a pivotal sector within the nation's transportation infrastructure, accounting for a substantial portion of freight and passenger movement compared to domestic alternative modes of transportation. With direct border connections and collaboration with railways in Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary, Ukrzaliznytsia JSC facilitate operations through forty international railway crossings. The political climate in Ukraine, particularly the focus on export to EU countries, has sparked increased interest in transportation towards western border regions [1, 2]. This article delves into the challenges and opportunities surrounding the enhanced cooperation of Ukrainian border terminals with EU countries during wartime and post-war periods. It analyzes the current state of freight transportation to Europe, addressing existing challenges and outlining short- and long-term development prospects for railways. Emphasis is made on the vital role of railway transport in Ukraine's integration into the European transport network, presenting avenues for implementing plans connected with railway reconstruction and development. Container transportation commands a significant market share, with a growing trend towards its adoption. Container transport facilitates a substantial reduction in loading operations, a notable increase in labor productivity, and enables comprehensive mechanization and automation of cross-docking operations. As a transit country—four out of ten existing pan-European transport corridors traverse Ukraine— the nation possesses considerable potential for developing its railway transport system. With the third-largest railway network in Europe (19,787 km, including 9,319 km of electrified tracks), railway transport assumes a leading role in Ukraine's transportation landscape. However, despite its advantages, Ukraine's transportation and logistics system lags behind those of other countries worldwide. Modernization of tracks and rolling stock necessitates significant capital investment and time, underscoring the immediate need to enhance the quality of logistics services [3]. Therefore, this article explores optimization methods for container traffic from Ukraine to EU countries with the use of mathematical methods and algorithms. The genetic algorithm among the discussed methods is recognized as one of the premier mathematical algorithms for the specified task. This approach could play a pivotal role in establishing a robust technical system for railways along Ukraine's western border, optimizing border crossing operations, and enhancing Ukrainian railway transportation capabilities. It not only aids in identifying the fastest or most economical routes but reveals weaknesses in Ukrainian border terminals. Additional strategies can be devised for modernizing and expanding border terminals and stations by leveraging this insight, facilitating the integration of Ukrainian railways into the European transport system.

Green Horizons Ahead: Navigating Carbon Neutrality in European Transportation by Sky and Sea

Abstract Research purpose. As carbon neutrality gains momentum, industries worldwide are navigating the challenges and opportunities posed by sustainability goals. This article delves into the strategies undertaken by airlines and maritime companies to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in the European Union (EU). The aim of the research is to explore how the aviation and maritime industries in Europe can effectively transition towards carbon neutrality by 2050, considering their similar technological challenges and opportunities. The objective of this research was to identify and compare currently utilized sustainability initiatives in aviation and maritime companies. The focus is on new insight from airline and maritime companies concentrating on their sustainability practices. Common hurdles, innovative solutions, and shared opportunities in the pursuit of environmental sustainability are explored. Design / Methodology / Approach. The selected research method was qualitative research, which was conducted with in-depth and semi-structured interviews and content analysis. Interviews were conducted with airline company and association representatives and maritime company, research, and education experts. The content analysis was based on sustainability reports and sustainability sections of annual reports. Key findings were synthesized into a theoretical framework and this research explores practical initiatives for a sustainable transformation process. Findings. The call to reduce carbon emissions has been initiated by the EU affecting the transportation sector, particularly aviation and maritime industries where the path to achieving carbon neutrality is constrained by significant technical limitations. Despite these challenges, both sectors share a unified objective according to EU climate targets. Both the aviation and maritime industries face challenges on the path to carbon neutrality. Airlines struggle with the limitations of current aviation technology, hindering the feasibility of large-scale technological advancements. Similarly, maritime companies confront regulatory complexities and infrastructure limitations in the adoption of alternative fuels and emission-reduction technologies since the commonly used tactics of reducing fuel consumption by optimizing speed, routes and scheduling are no longer adequate ways and the energy needs of the shipping industry cannot be met only with battery technology. Originality / Value / Practical implications. These challenges offer opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Investments in research and development are driving advancements in electric and hydrogen aircraft, while the maritime industry is also trying to find hydrogen-based solutions for greener development, but the technologies are not widely available. This leads towards combining bio-oils and technological innovations related to the fleet. Case study 1 sheds light on airline sustainability in Europe, revealing strategies and initiatives that European airlines are currently utilizing in their sustainable transformation journey. Case study 2 explores different means of achieving carbon neutrality in the maritime industry, in particular the potential of common reed (Phragmites australis) as a carbon offset tool for reaching net zero. Both industries are making significant strides towards carbon neutrality through a combination of technological innovation, operational efficiencies, and strategic partnerships. Towards green horizons as transport industries converge on the path to carbon neutrality.

Factors affecting the cessation of commercial air services at English regional airports

Although much of the existing research on regional airports focuses on their contribution to regional economic development, regional airports in England, as in other deregulated markets, operate in a highly competitive market and not all have been able to sustain commercial flights. This paper examines the factors that have led to the cessation of commercial air services at English regional airports following liberalisation of the European air transport market in 1992. Six factors which have contributed to air service cessation are identified and potential futures for smaller regional airports discussed.