Ulfvengren on the future of aviation at the Swedish parliament
On March 27, the Swedish Parliament hosted its annual Research Day, with KTH among the invited participants. Pernilla Ulfvengren, researcher at INDEK, was invited to speak to members of the Committee on Transport and Communications about sustainable aviation.
The seminar focused on skills development in today’s evolving society—how to ensure that future generations acquire the expertise needed through education and workplace learning.
What was the key message of your presentation?
I wanted to highlight that Sweden has a greater opportunity to reduce aviation’s climate impact by investing in its own aerospace industry rather than simply limiting air travel within, to, and from the country—measures that could instead restrict accessibility and weaken infrastructure.
There is also a risk that when electric aviation becomes viable, we won’t have airports close enough to support it. These aircraft have a short range and limited passenger capacity, meaning infrastructure needs to be in place well in advance.
By actively participating in the development of new technology, components, and manufacturing methods for future aircraft, Sweden can make a significant global contribution. Today, Swedish aeronautics is involved in 90% of the world’s commercial aircraft fleet through collaborations with leading engine and aircraft manufacturers.
Additionally, I wanted to strengthen KTH’s position in the aerospace sector. My hope is that this will support the continuation and expansion of the KTH Center for Sustainable Aviation—not just in terms of noise research, but with a broader focus and increased funding.
What kinds of questions did you receive?
Many questions were about future fuels and the different stages of their development. There was also interest in other ways to reduce aviation’s climate impact, such as optimizing air traffic management and minimizing aircraft weight. This includes everything from lighter catering trolleys and redesigned seat materials to innovations in aircraft structures and components. It’s not just about engine development—every aspect of aviation plays a role.
What sparked the most interest?
The timeframes for different technologies were a major point of discussion. For example, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) can already be used in today’s aircraft engines, but their availability is limited. Hydrogen, on the other hand, requires entirely new aircraft designs. Then another aspect comes in. An airplane has an economic life span of about 30 years, and scrapping them prematurely would not be sustainable from any perspective. Instead, we are looking at a gradual transition, where older models will be phased out and new ones introduced over the coming decades.
Told to: Anna Gullers