I am a professor at Beihang University. Before joining Beihang, I worked for eight years in the German Aerospace Center (DLR). I am a Theodore von Kármán fellow of RWTH Aachen, a TU Dresden fellow, and a Vice President of the Air Transport Research Society. I am also the Co-EIC of the Journal of the Air Transport Research Society, an Associate Editor for the Journal of Air Transport Management as well as the IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems.

In my research, I am mostly interested in air transportation systems and the solution of hard optimization problems in all domains of aviation, with a strong emphasis on policy implications. Results of my research have been published in venues such as Transportation Science, Transportation Research Part A/B/C/D/E, Transport Policy, Networks and Spatial Economics, Transportmetrica A/B. I have reviewed for various international journals in the past, covering domains of transportation (Transportation Research Part A/B/C/D/E/F, Journal of Air Transport Management, Research in Transportation Business & Management, Transportmetrica A/B, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems), optimization (Computers & Operations Research, Computers & Industrial Engineering, Operation Research Perspectives), and networked systems (Reliability Engineering & System Safety, Complexity, Applied Network Science). A list of my key publications can be found below. A detailed CV is available on request.

Ten selected key publications:

1. Xiaoqian Sun, Morton O'Kelly, et al. On the connectivity and resilience of airline overlays An empirical study from individual airlines to system-wide effects.
   Transportation Research Part E-Logistics and Transportation Review forthcoming, 2025, IF=8.3 (Q1)
2. Xiaoqian Sun, Changhong Zheng, et al. Multiple airport regions: A review of concepts, insights and challenges.
   Journal of Transport Geography 120, pp. 103974, 2024, IF=5.7 (Q1) DOI
3. Xiaoqian Sun, Changhong Zheng, et al. A review on research regarding HSR interactions with air transport and outlook for future research challenges.
   Transport Policy 157, pp. 74-85, 2024, IF=6.3 (Q1) DOI
4. Xiaoqian Sun, Sebastian Wandelt*, et al. Price discrimination through hidden city options? A data-driven study on the extent and evolution of skiplaggability in the global aviation system.
   Journal of Air Transport Management 108, pp. 102373, 2023, IF=3.9 (Q2) DOI
5. Xiaoqian Sun, Sebastian Wandelt*, et al. A data-driven analysis of the aviation recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
   Journal of Air Transport Management 109, pp. 102401, 2023, IF=3.9 (Q2) DOI
6. Xiaoqian Sun, Sebastian Wandelt*, et al. Ghostbusters: Hunting abnormal flights in Europe during COVID-19.
   Transport Policy 127, pp. 203-217, 2022, IF=6.3 (Q1) DOI
7. Xiaoqian Sun, Sebastian Wandelt*, et al. STARTUPS: Founding airlines during COVID-19 - a hopeless endeavor or an ample opportunity for a better aviation system?.
   Transport Policy 118, pp. 10-19, 2022, IF=6.3 (Q1) DOI
8. Xiaoqian Sun, Sebastian Wandelt*, et al. Technological and Educational Challenges Towards Pandemic-Resilient Aviation.
   Transport Policy 114, pp. 104-115, 2021, IF=6.3 (Q1) DOI
9. Xiaoqian Sun, Sebastian Wandelt*, et al. Delayed reaction towards emerging COVID-19 variants of concern: Does history repeat itself?.
   Transportation Research Part A-Policy and Practice 152, pp. 203-215, 2021, IF=6.3 (Q1) DOI
10. Xiaoqian Sun, Sebastian Wandelt*, et al. Vaccination Passports: Challenges for a Future of Air Transportation.
    Transport Policy 110, pp. 394-401, 2021, IF=6.3 (Q1) DOI