TR
EN
Artificial intelligence and digital technologies in aviation: A bibliometric analysis of research trends and knowledge structures
Abstract
In recent times, the aviation industry has experienced a major change due to a growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and technology for digital transformation. These technologies can improve efficiency, safety, and performance throughout the aviation sector and could be used for many different purposes, including air traffic management, operational planning, predictive maintenance, and decision support systems. To investigate the history, conceptual structure, and intellectual basis of existing academic literature on AI and digital technologies in the aviation industry, this study provides a detailed bibliometric analysis of the existing literature on this issue. This study used existing articles indexed in the Scopus database from 2015 - 2025 as its dataset, which contained 1302 articles about AI, machine learning, big data, digital transformation technologies, automation, decision support systems, and blockchain in an aviation context. The bibliometric analysis was conducted using the VOSviewer software to conduct keyword co-occurrence analysis, co-citation analysis, co-authorship analysis, and bibliography coupling techniques to identify common themes within the existing literature. Based on the analysis undertaken, it was understood that literature predominantly consists of the following themes: machine learning, deep learning, air traffic management, and data-driven decision support systems. Thus, these results demonstrate an interdisciplinary research area with strong relationships between aviation management, operations research, human factors and engineering. The results of the bibliographic coupling analysis also reveal new research areas on data analytics, intelligent air traffic management systems, and autonomous aviation technologies. The findings of this study will assist researchers in understanding how artificial intelligence and digital transformation affect aviation, and it presents a foundation for future studies about these topics by providing a systematic framework for the conceptual and intellectual organization of the field.
Keywords
- Aviation
- artificial intelligence
- machine learning
- digital transformation
- big data analytics
- bibliometric analysis
- VOSviewer
Ethical Statement
This article meets research and publication ethics standards.
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Air Transportation and Freight Services
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
August 31, 2026
Submission Date
April 13, 2026
Acceptance Date
August 3, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 2
APA
Kanbur, E., & Mazıoğlu, V. (2026). Artificial intelligence and digital technologies in aviation: A bibliometric analysis of research trends and knowledge structures. Havacılık Ve Uzay Çalışmaları Dergisi, 6(2), 325-341. https://doi.org/10.52995/jass.1929658
AMA
1.Kanbur E, Mazıoğlu V. Artificial intelligence and digital technologies in aviation: A bibliometric analysis of research trends and knowledge structures. JASS. 2026;6(2):325-341. doi:10.52995/jass.1929658
Chicago
Kanbur, Engin, and Volkan Mazıoğlu. 2026. “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies in Aviation: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Knowledge Structures”. Havacılık Ve Uzay Çalışmaları Dergisi 6 (2): 325-41. https://doi.org/10.52995/jass.1929658.
EndNote
Kanbur E, Mazıoğlu V (August 1, 2026) Artificial intelligence and digital technologies in aviation: A bibliometric analysis of research trends and knowledge structures. Havacılık ve Uzay Çalışmaları Dergisi 6 2 325–341.
IEEE
[1]E. Kanbur and V. Mazıoğlu, “Artificial intelligence and digital technologies in aviation: A bibliometric analysis of research trends and knowledge structures”, JASS, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 325–341, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.52995/jass.1929658.
ISNAD
Kanbur, Engin - Mazıoğlu, Volkan. “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies in Aviation: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Knowledge Structures”. Havacılık ve Uzay Çalışmaları Dergisi 6/2 (August 1, 2026): 325-341. https://doi.org/10.52995/jass.1929658.
JAMA
1.Kanbur E, Mazıoğlu V. Artificial intelligence and digital technologies in aviation: A bibliometric analysis of research trends and knowledge structures. JASS. 2026;6:325–341.
MLA
Kanbur, Engin, and Volkan Mazıoğlu. “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies in Aviation: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Knowledge Structures”. Havacılık Ve Uzay Çalışmaları Dergisi, vol. 6, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 325-41, doi:10.52995/jass.1929658.
Vancouver
1.Engin Kanbur, Volkan Mazıoğlu. Artificial intelligence and digital technologies in aviation: A bibliometric analysis of research trends and knowledge structures. JASS. 2026 Aug. 1;6(2):325-41. doi:10.52995/jass.1929658