This project aims to enhance the UK aviation system by developing a computational model to simulate airport closures and aircraft diversions, identifying system bottlenecks and improving mass diversion protocols.
  • Dates1 April 2024-31 March 2025
  • SponsorUK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
  • Funded£40,000
  • PartnersData & Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure (DAFNI)

The project seeks to improve the resilience and efficiency of the UK aviation network by developing a computational model that simulates airport closures and the subsequent diversion of aircraft to alternate airports. We are collecting and analysing extensive data on airport capacities, flight routes and diversion scenarios. The model is able identify potential bottlenecks and provides critical insights for enhancing mass diversion protocols.

In this project, we put emphasis on open-source collaboration, therefore, all data and software will be made available to the DAFNI community and the broader public under the MIT licence, ensuring that the findings and tools can be widely utilised and further developed.