ABSTRACT
Several studies have applied methods from complex network theory (CNT) to the air traffic system. Complex networks could improve both our knowledge of the air transport system and our ability to manage and control it. From an operational point of view, the methods and concepts from CNT have many potential applications. The air transport industry has until recently paid poor attention to passenger-centric metrics, its reporting being essentially flight-centric. This chapter discusses some aspects of resilience and vulnerability that are connected with the network representation of the air transport system. It examines the relationships between the topology of the air traffic network and its resilience or vulnerability. As the Single European Sky (SES) and SESAR programmes testify, the current system seems unable to support such an increase and new tools and methods must be developed.
