ISA at the WCTR 2026: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Aviation

From July 6 to 10, 2026, Toulouse hosted the World Conference on Transport Research (WCTR) 2026, a major global event organized by the Toulouse School of Economics and chaired by Prof. Marc Ivaldi. This triennial event serves as a global platform for the exchange of ideas among transport researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and educators from around the world.

The conference is designed to foster a multimodal, multisectoral, and multidisciplinary dialogue, offering a unique opportunity to present and discuss the latest advancements in transport research and practice.

The Institute for Sustainable Aviation (ISA) was proud to contribute to the discussions, with Laurent Joly, ISA Director, joining a high-level roundtable and four researchers presenting their latest findings.

ISA Director Joins Key Roundtable on Sustainability and Competition

On the second day of the conference, Laurent Joly participated in the panel « Global Air Transport: Can Sustainability and Fair Competition Be Aligned? », alongside Lucie Muniesa, Secretary General of Air France-KLM. The debate tackled critical issues for European aviation, including intensified global competition, mature markets, fossil fuel dependence, and the challenges of SAF mandates and cost pass-through rates.

Laurent Joly highlighted the essential role of ISA-driven scientific research in designing effective policies and industrial strategies. He emphasized the need to balance economic resilience with environmental efficiency, a core mission of ISA’s work.

ISA Researchers Present Cutting-Edge Work

Four researchers also shared their insights at WCTR 2026:

• Thomas Bétous (ADEME-ISAE-SUPAERO-Lille University): « Cleared for descent? Analysis of two regulatory policies to moderate air traffic in France and their effects on passengers »
• Antoine Salgas (ISAE-SUPAERO): « Comparing air transport decarbonisation policies using a sectoral assessment model »
• Ian Costa Alves (ISAE-SUPAERO): « Modeling and calibration of aggregate aviation demand for climate mitigation scenarios »
• Paco Viry (ISAE-SUPAERO): « Studying air travel technological scenarios with a multinomial aircraft assignment model »

Their presentations showcased ISA’s commitment to rigorous, data-driven research that addresses the most pressing challenges in aviation sustainability.