Title: Socio-economic stratification of urban air mobility based on income and transport demand: a case study of New York City

Authors: Bárbara Adriany Freitas Junqueira; Anderson Ribeiro Correia; Evandro José da Silva; Mauro Caetano

Addresses: Department of Air Transport, Aeronautics Infrastructure Engineering Program, Brazilian Air Force (FAB), Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA), Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50, Vila das Acácias, 12228-900, São José dos Campos/SP, Brazil ' Department of Air Transport, Aeronautics Infrastructure Engineering Program, Brazilian Air Force (FAB), Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA), Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50, Vila das Acácias, 12228-900, São José dos Campos/SP, Brazil ' Department of Air Transport, Aeronautics Infrastructure Engineering Program, Brazilian Air Force (FAB), Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA), Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50, Vila das Acácias, 12228-900, São José dos Campos/SP, Brazil ' Department of Air Transport, Aeronautics Infrastructure Engineering Program, Brazilian Air Force (FAB), Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA), Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50, Vila das Acácias, 12228-900, São José dos Campos/SP, Brazil

Abstract: Understanding the main factors driving urban air mobility (UAM) demand is essential for better planning of operations for this emerging air transport mode in large cities. Using New York City as a case study, this research aims to analyse the geographic distribution of potential UAM passengers by income and demand for air taxi services through exploratory data analysis. The results show that during the initial phase of operations, airport shuttle services connecting high-income and high-demand areas, such as the route between Manhattan and John F. Kennedy International Airport, can serve as a reference for experimental business cases in operational planning. The theoretical and practical implications of this study offer insights for the development of new air transport services and infrastructure in UAM.

Keywords: advanced air mobility; air transport; infrastructure; urban planning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSA.2026.153298

International Journal of Sustainable Aviation, 2026 Vol.12 No.1, pp.27 - 43

Received: 25 Aug 2025
Accepted: 12 Dec 2025
Published online: 01 May 2026 *

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